HMS Squirrel (1785)

{{other ships|HMS Squirrel}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}

{{Use British English|date=March 2017}}

{{Infobox ship begin}} {{Infobox ship image | Ship image=Squirrel (1785) RMG J6465.jpg | Ship caption=Squirrel }} {{Infobox ship career |Hide header= |Ship country=Great Britain |Ship flag={{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|naval}} |Ship name=HMS Squirrel |Ship ordered= |Ship builder= Barton, Liverpool |Ship laid down= |Ship launched=9 May 1785 |Ship acquired= |Ship commissioned= |Ship decommissioned= |Ship in service= |Ship out of service=6 March 1817 |Ship renamed= |Ship struck= |Ship reinstated= |Ship honours= |Ship captured= |Ship fate=Sold to J Cristall for breaking up |Ship notes= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship class= |Ship tons burthen=563 (bm) |Ship length={{convert|119|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} |Ship beam={{convert|32|ft|6|in|m|1|abbr=on}} |Ship draught= |Ship hold depth= |Ship sail plan= |Ship complement= |Ship armament=24 guns |Ship notes= }}

File:Squirrel (1785) RMG J6458.jpg plan, showing the quarterdeck and forecastle]]

HMS Squirrel was a Royal Navy 24-gun sixth rate, built in 1785 and broken up in 1817.{{cite book | title=Ships of the Royal Navy | publisher=Casemate |author1=Colledge, JJ |author2=Warlow, Ben | year=2010 | location=London | page=382 | isbn=978-1-935149--07-1}}

In February 1799, while serving on the Jamaica Station, Squirrel and {{HMS|Trent|1796|6}}, captured the 14-gun privateer, Penada.{{cite book |first=Rif|last=Winfield|title=British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793–1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates|publisher=Seaforth Publishing|location=Barnsley, United Kingdom|year=2008|page=148|isbn=978-1-86176-246-7}}

On 3 March 1806, Squirrel and Mediator left Cork, escorting a convoy for the West Indies. The convoy was reported "all well" on 25 March at {{coord|27|30|N|20|30|W}}. Squirrel was going to escort 12 merchantmen on to Demerara, Berbice, and Surinam.[http://www.1812privateers.org/LLOYDS/1806/05-27-1806.jpg Lloyd's List, n°4056 - accessed 1 December 2015.] Squirrel, {{HMS|Lynx|1794|2}}, and {{HMS|Driver|1797|2}} captured three ships on 6 September: Snelle, Jager, and Engesende. {{ship|French corvette|Jalouse|1794|2}} shared by agreement with Lynx and Driver in the proceeds.{{London Gazette|issue= 15577|pages=464–465|date=19 April 1803}}