Lot Essay
Whilst ostensibly a yacht, the Louisa carried a full ship rig and mounted at least 28 guns, both of which features made her more reminiscent of a naval sixth rate than a pleasure craft. Registered in Southampton at 325 tons, she was undeniably impressive and, between 1815 and 1824, was owned by the Earl of Craven, one of the founder members of the Royal Yacht Squadron, who frequently took her far beyond Home Waters. In 1816, it is recorded that he took her to Cherbourg and thence to Leghorn and Naples via Bordeaux and Cette, the voyage to Cette being especially rough although the Earl was able to boast that the yacht "had not two hogsheads of water on deck" so well did she ride. Huggins shows her here in company with Cygnet, a 57-ton cutter, owned at that time by the 6th Earl of Harborough. He had bought her in 1820 from J.N. Fazakerley, another founding member of the R.Y.S. but sold her after only three years to Joseph Reynolds, R.Y.S., who likewise kept her a mere three years, selling her in 1827.