French brig Inconstant (1811)
The contract for the French brig Inconstant was signed with St André in April 1809. Jacques-Noël Sané designed the vessel while Jean-Baptiste Marestier supervised its construction. Work halted abruptly on the 28th of January 1810 when the ship remained only partially complete. The Navy then took over and finished building the frigate itself. Inconstant finally launched into the water during 1811.
Emperor Napoleon I arrived at Portoferraio on the 30th of May 1814 following his forced abdication. He received permission to keep a small navy alongside six hundred men of personal guard. Inconstant left Toulon on the 24th of April 1814 but did not carry him to Elba as originally planned. Instead she sailed to the island on the 25th of May 1814 and joined his fleet three days later. Lieutenant François-Louis Taillade commanded the vessel for most of this period. She transported Napoleon and forty troops to fortify the islands of Pianosa and Palmaiola. Her crew grew by fifty soldiers to patrol against Barbary pirates. A gale drove her ashore on the 6th of January 1815 causing significant damage. Another storm struck five days later forcing even more repairs. Napoleon temporarily removed Taillade from command before allowing him to return.
On the 26th of February 1815 Napoleon used Inconstant to flee exile in Elba. The ship ferried him and his generals between Elba and Golfe Juan until the 1st of March 1815. This escape marked the beginning of the Hundred Days campaign. After Napoleon's defeat the French navy reintegrated Inconstant in March 1815. Dryady escorted the frigate to Toulon on the 24th of May. The vessel had served its primary historical purpose during these brief weeks.
Inconstant spent time at the École navale from 1827 to 1829 before a long cruise began. From the 1st of February 1829 to the 9th of January 1832 she traveled from Brest to Newfoundland and Brazil. A refit occurred in 1834 to prepare her for further duties. She left Saint Louis, Senegal on the 6th of February 1835 carrying officers of Africain. On the 8th of December 1835 Inconstant departed Brest bound for Cayenne. The vessel grounded in the Amazon River on the 10th of January 1836 but managed to refloat herself. She then stationed at French Guiana from 1838 to 1840.
Authorities condemned Inconstant on the 17th of August 1842 after years of service. The frigate was broken up in dry dock number six at Brest starting the 4th of December 1843. This dismantling marked the end of a career spanning over thirty years. No records indicate any other major incidents during this final phase. The ship's materials were likely recycled for future naval projects.
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Common questions
Who designed the French brig Inconstant 1811?
Jacques-Noël Sané designed the vessel while Jean-Baptiste Marestier supervised its construction. The contract for the ship was signed with St André in April 1809.
When did Napoleon use the French brig Inconstant 1811 to escape from Elba?
Napoleon used the French brig Inconstant 1811 to flee exile on the 26th of February 1815. The ship ferried him and his generals between Elba and Golfe Juan until the 1st of March 1815.
Where was the French brig Inconstant 1811 built and launched?
Work halted abruptly on the 28th of January 1810 when the ship remained only partially complete before the Navy finished building it. Inconstant finally launched into the water during 1811 after being taken over by the Navy.
What happened to the French brig Inconstant 1811 after Napoleon's defeat in 1815?
After Napoleon's defeat the French navy reintegrated Inconstant in March 1815. Dryady escorted the frigate to Toulon on the 24th of May.
Why was the French brig Inconstant 1811 condemned and broken up?
Authorities condemned Inconstant on the 17th of August 1842 after years of service. The frigate was broken up in dry dock number six at Brest starting the 4th of December 1843.