From: Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships

A Latin (!) word meaning "deep blue."

Fr: t. 539 l. 110' b. 31'6"

dph. 8' cpl. 180 a. 4 x 12-pdr., 20 x 32-pdr. car., 8 x 18-pdr. car.

The first Cyane , a frigate, was built in 1796 at Frinsbury, England, for the Royal Navy. She was captured with HMS Levant 20 February 1815 by Constitution after a 40-minute night engagement off Madeira. With Constitution 's second lieutenant Hoffman as prize master, she successfully escaped recapture by a pursuing British squadron 12 March and arrived in America 10 April. She was adjudicated by a prize court and purchased by the Navy.

Cyane cruised off the west coast of Africa from 1819-20 and in the West Indies from 1820-21 protecting the Liberian colony and suppressing piracy and the slave trade. She cruised in the Mediterranean 1824-25, and on the Brazil Station 1826-27. Laid up at Philadelphia Navy Yard, she sank in 1835 and was raised and broken up the following year.