French corvette Vénus (1794)

The Vénus was a 16-gun corvette of the French Navy, launched in 1794. She was built to a design by Charles-Henri Le Tellier. Her service primarily occurred during the French Revolutionary Wars and the early Napoleonic Wars.

Details regarding her early service are somewhat scarce, but she is documented to have been involved in several actions. The Vénus was known for patrolling the English Channel and the Atlantic, tasked with intercepting enemy merchant vessels and warships.

A significant event in the Vénus's career was her capture by the Royal Navy. In 1796, while under the command of Lieutenant de vaisseau (Lieutenant Commander) M. Le Duc, she was intercepted and captured by the British frigate HMS Southampton under the command of Captain Macbride. The engagement was brief but decisive, resulting in the Vénus being taken as a prize.

Following her capture, the Royal Navy commissioned the Vénus into service as HMS Vénus. Her subsequent service within the British Navy is a separate chapter in the history of naval vessels and would be documented under that title, referencing her French origins.