Hired armed cutter Earl Spencer
Three hired armed cutters named Earl Spencer served the British Royal Navy during the French Revolutionary or Napoleonic Wars. Two, both cutters, served at the same time between 1799 and 1801. A third, variously referred to as a tender or cutter, served from 1803 to 1814.
Earl Spencer, of 163 56⁄94 tons (bm) served under contract between 7 July 1799 and 20 October 1801. She carried two 6-pounder guns and twelve 12-pounder carronades.
At some point in early 1800, Earl Spencer and the hired armed cutter Nile recaptured Molly, which was in ballast. This was probably Molley, which had been sailing from Exeter to Newcastle when a French privateer had captured her. Molley came into Deal on 14 February.
On 15 September Rye and Earl Spencer brought into Portsmouth a neutral vessel they had detained. This was probably Maria Margaretha, which they had captured on 12 September. Then on 23 November Earl Spencer left Portsmouth in search of a privateer reported to be off the back of the Isle of Wight.
Lastly, Rye returned to Portsmouth on 24 December from a cruise. A few days earlier she had chased a French 16-gun privateer lugger but had lost her quarry in a thick fog. Still, Earl Spencer brought in with her the ship Martha, which she had detained and which was "richly laden".
On 1 January 1801 Rye received promotion to Commander, and transferred to Rambler. Lieutenant James Leach replaced Rye.
On 15 May 1801 Fisgard, and the hired armed cutters Hirondelle and Earl Spencer, recaptured the brig Victory from the French.Victory, John Bowden (or Barden), master, had been sailing from London to St John's, Newfoundland, when on 1 May the French privateer Arriege had captured her. The recaptured Victory came into Plymouth.
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