HMS Earnest (1805)

History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Earnest
Ordered	June 1804
Builder	Menzies & Goalen, Leith
Laid down	August 1804
Launched	16 January 1805[1]
Commissioned	February 1805
Fate	Sold May 1816
United Kingdom
Name	Earnest
Acquired	May 1816 by purchase
Fate	Last listed 1850
General characteristics [2]
Class and type	Archer-class gun-brig
Tons burthen	1826⁄94,[1] or 18220⁄94 bm
Length	Overall: 80 ft 11+1⁄8 in (24.7 m) Keel: 66 ft 8+1⁄8 in (20.3 m), or 65 ft 10 in (20.1 m)[1]
Beam	22 ft 8 in (6.9 m), or 22 ft 6 in (6.9 m)[1]
Depth of hold	9 ft 5 in (2.9 m)
Sail plan	Brig
Complement	50
Armament	10 × 18-pounder carronades

HMS Earnest was launched at Leith in 1805 as one of 48 later Archer-class gun brigs for the British Royal Navy. During her naval career Earnest captured five small privateers and numerous merchant vessels. In 1816 the Admiralty sold her and she became the merchantman Earnest. She continued to sail and was last listed in 1850.