HMS Manly (1797)
HMS Manly (or Manley), was originally the merchant ship Experiment, launched in 1792 at Leith. The British Royal Navy purchased her in 1797, used her as a gun-brig escorting convoys, and then sold her in 1802. New owners sailed her between London and Monserrat; she was last listed in 1816. Experiment Experiment entered Lloyd's Register in 1792 with J. Scougal, owner, G. Norris, master, and trade Leith–Saint Petersburg. In 1797 Lloyd's Register still carried Experiment with J. Scougal, owner, and trade Leith–Saint Petersburg. Her master was W. Young. HMS Manly After the onset of war with France Britain's merchant fleet provided French, and later Dutch and Danish privateers with a target-rich environment. The British Royal Navy needed escort vessels and a quick fix was to buy existing merchant vessels, arm and man them, and then deploy them. Between March and April the Admiralty purchased 10 brigs at Leith, Experiment among them. The Royal Navy initially designated these as GB №__, but then gave them names before they actually sailed. The Royal Navy acquired Experiment in April 1797 at Leith and commissioned her as GB No.37 in May 1797 under the command of Lieutenant William Malone for the North Sea. She