Vénus was launched in Saint-Malo in 1780. Under Captain Gouzillon de Bélizal,[2] she patrolled between Île de Ré, Nantes and Brest and escorted convoys. In this capacity, she captured the British privateer Lord Amherst on 16 June 1781.[1][3]
She was wrecked on 5 August 1781 near Glénan Islands, off Concarneau, when she ran aground due to a navigation error of the pilot. The crew was saved, but in spite of efforts to refloat her, she became a total loss.[1]
Her guns were found in 1978, and are now on display in Concarneau.
Roche, Jean-Michel (2005). Dictionnaire des bâtiments de la flotte de guerre française de Colbert à nos jours. Vol. 1. Group Retozel-Maury Millau. ISBN978-2-9525917-0-6. OCLC165892922.
