French ship Mercure (1783)

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Mercure (1783) was a 74-gun Séduisant-class ship of the line of the French Navy. Named after Mercury, it was ordered on 1 June 1782 and built at Toulon. It was laid down in August 1782, launched on 4 August 1783, and commissioned in 1783. The ship was captured by the British at Toulon in August 1793 but was retaken by the French in December 1793. It fought in the Battle of the Nile in 1798 under Captain Cambon, and was later engaged with HMS Majestic and captured by HMS Alexander. Damaged beyond repair and aground, Mercure was burnt on 2 August 1798. Dimensions: length 56.3 m, beam 14.2 m, draught 7.4 m; displacement 3,010 tonneaux; ton burthen 1,530 port tonneaux; complement about 600; armament 74 guns.