(Brig: a. 12 guns)
The first Diligent, a brig, was built in America for use in the Royal Navy and captured by the Continental brig Providence 7May 1779. Taken into the Continental Navy under the command of Lieutenant Phillip Brown, Diligent cruised with her captor for a short time and then participated in the Penobscot Expedition during July and August 1779. After successfully landing an armed force to attempt the recapture of Castine, Maine, from the British, despite opposition from shore and from three British sloops of war, the American ships were forced by the arrival of an overpowering British squadron to break off their efforts. On 14 August Diligent was run ashore and burned by her own crew to prevent her capture by the British.