HMS Marguerite was a frigate, Captain Courtney commanding in 1798 during Hornblower's tour as Fourth Lieutenant. Courtney enjoyed the flagrant and excessive use of flogging for menial reasons such as the last crew member to follow his order. Marguerite was the scene of a mutiny by fifteen men scheduled for flogging ordered by Courtney when Hornblower was ordered to negotiate terms, and he gave his and Courtney's word that they would not be flogged for a week.