HMS Defender (1797)

HMS Defender was a 14-gun Diligent-class brig of the Royal Navy, launched in 1797. She was built by contract at Northfleet and served primarily in the English Channel and North Sea during the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars.

Defender was involved in various patrol and escort duties, protecting British shipping and intercepting enemy vessels. While details of specific engagements are often sparse in historical records for vessels of this class, she participated in the general naval effort to maintain British maritime dominance and disrupt French trade and movements.

The Diligent-class brigs were designed for speed and maneuverability, making them well-suited for escorting convoys and pursuing privateers. Defender's relatively small size and armament meant she was best suited for these roles rather than engaging larger warships directly.

Her fate is less well-documented than some larger vessels. Naval records suggest Defender was sold out of the service sometime after the end of the Napoleonic Wars. Further details of her subsequent life, if any, are currently unavailable.