His Majesty's hired armed cutter Duke of Clarence, named for William Henry, Duke of Clarence, served the British Royal Navy under two contracts, one during the French Revolutionary Wars, and one at the beginning of the Napoleonic Wars.
Captain Thomas Manby of Africaine immediately seized sixty fishing boats that he then sent to Yarmouth.
Clements received the mission to take Duke of Clarence to patrol between the Minquiers and Chausey to meet a boat bringing intelligence from France.
On 24 November 1804, Duke of Clarence sighted a large French lugger and set off in chase, with the hired armed cutter Albion joining in.
As Duke of Clarence awaited her boat's return she hit a submerged rock with the result that she started to fill with water.
[8] On 8 December the Lisbon packet arrived at Portsmouth with news of the loss of Duke of Clarence.