French frigate Calypso (1807)

The Calypso was a 40-gun Gloire-class frigate of the French Navy, launched in 1807. She was built according to plans by Jacques-Noël Sané, a prominent naval architect of the era. Her design emphasized speed and maneuverability, typical characteristics sought in frigates intended for scouting, commerce raiding, and escort duties.

The Calypso's career was relatively short-lived. She participated in various operations during the Napoleonic Wars, primarily in the Atlantic. Due to the British naval blockade, she was frequently involved in attempts to break out of French ports and disrupt British shipping. Details of her specific engagements are somewhat fragmented, but naval records indicate involvement in several skirmishes and pursuit actions.

In 1808, while attempting to sail from Lorient, France, she was intercepted by a superior British force. After a brief but intense battle, the Calypso was captured by the British Royal Navy. Following her capture, she was taken into British service.

Under the British flag, the former Calypso was renamed HMS Calypso. She continued to serve in the Royal Navy, performing similar duties to those she had undertaken for the French. Her career as HMS Calypso also proved relatively short, as she was wrecked in 1810.