French frigate Flore (1769)
| History | |
|---|---|
 France | |
| Name | Flore |
| Namesake | Flora |
| Ordered | 9 November 1767[1] |
| Builder | Brest[1] |
| Laid down | February 1769[1] |
| Launched | 11 November 1768[1] |
| Fate | Sold at Toulon in 1787[1] |
| General characteristics [1] | |
| Tons burthen | 540 tonnes |
| Length | 40.9 metres |
| Beam | 10.6 metres |
| Draught | 5 metres |
| Propulsion | Sail |
| Armament |
|
| Armour | Timber |
Flore was a 32-gun frigate of the French Navy, designed by Groignard. She is notable for her scientific voyage in 1771 and 1772, where she tested marine chronometers made by Berthoud, an important step in the History of longitude.[1]
Career[edit]
On 29 October 1771, under Lieutenant Verdun de la Crenne, Flore departed Brest for a scientific voyage intended to test several Marine chronometers:[Note 1] Berthoud's n°8, Le Roy's watches A and S, and another called "petite ronde" which was not competing for the 1773 prize,[3] as well as further chronometers by Arsandeaux and Biesta. Borda and Pingré were part of the expedition. Flore called Cadiz and Tenerriffe, before continuing on to Gorée, Fort Royal, Cap français, Saint-Pierre et Miquelon, and Copenhagen, before returning to Brest.[2]
Flore took part in the War of American Independence under Castellane-Majastre, ferrying letters between Toulon and America in April 1778.[1]
On 22 October 1781, Flore departed Toulon to take part in the Invasion of Minorca. She returned on 30 November.[1]
Fate[edit]
Flore was condemned at Toulon, and sold in 1787.[1]
Notes[edit]
Citations[edit]
References[edit]
- Le Bot, Jean (1983). Les chronomètres de marine français au XVIIIe siècle. Grenoble: Terre & Mer. OCLC 561028596.
- Marguet, Frédéric (1931). "LES HORLOGES MARINES III. – Les voyages d'épreuves.". Histoire générale de la navigation du XVe au XXe siècle (PDF). Paris: Société d'éditions géographiques, maritimes et coloniales. OCLC 424071897.
- Martin-Allanic, Jean-Étienne (1964). Bougainville Navigateur et les Découvertes de son Temps (in French). Paris: Presses Universitaires de France. OCLC 729759706.
- Roche, Jean-Michel (2005). Dictionnaire des bâtiments de la flotte de guerre française de Colbert à nos jours. Vol. 1. Group Retozel-Maury Millau. ISBN 978-2-9525917-0-6. OCLC 165892922.
External links[edit]
- "Chap 6.3 : Les voyages d'épreuves". Pratiques et Techniques de la Plaisance. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- "VERDUN DE LA CRENNE (Jean-René-Antoine, Marquis de)". Retrieved 14 June 2020.