HMS Florentina

History
Spain
NameSanta Florentina
NamesakeSaint Florentina
BuilderArsenal de Cartagena, CartagenaSpain
Laid down3 January 1786
Launched21 December 1786 (see text)
Commissioned1787
FateCaptured 7 April 1800
Great Britain
NameHMS Florentina
NamesakeTruncation of Spanish name
AcquiredBy capture 7 April 1800
Honours and
awards
Naval General Service Medal (NGSM) with clasp "Egypt"
FateSold 1803
General characteristics
Tons burthen9017894 (bm)
Length
  • 146 ft 8 in (44.7 m) (overall);
  • 119 ft 6 in (36.4 m) (keel)
Beam37 ft 8 in (11.5 m)
Depth of hold10 ft 6 in (3.2 m)
Complement
  • At capture: 114
  • British service: 260
Armament
  • Spanish service
    • Upperdeck: 26 × 12-pounder guns
    • QD: 6 × 4-pounder guns
    • Fc: 2 × 4-pounder guns
  • British service
    • Upperdeck: 26 × 12-pounder guns
    • QD: 6 × 6-pounder guns
    • Fc: 2 × 6-pounder guns

HMS Florentina (sometimes referred to as Florentia or Florentine in historical documents), was a frigate of the British Royal Navy in service from 1800 to 1802. She previously served in the Spanish Navy as Santa Florentina from 1787 until the British captured her in 1800.

In the Spanish Navy, Santa Florentina was named for Saint Florentina (d. ca. 612), a saint venerated by the Catholic Church. Santa Florentina operated against the Moors in North Africa and served during the French Revolutionary Wars in both the War of the First Coalition and the War of the Second Coalition. During the latter conflict, the Royal Navy captured her in the Action of 7 April 1800 and took her into service as HMS Florentina.

In British service, Florentina operated in the Mediterranean Sea, including in the Egyptian campaign in 1801, until she returned to the United Kingdom in 1802 after the Treaty of Amiens. There the British Admiralty had her laid-up in ordinary in 1802 and she was sold in 1803.