The Dutch naval brig Meermin was built at Flushing; the Zeeland Admiralty purchased her in 1784. The British Royal Navy seized her in 1796. The Royal Navy named her HMS Miermen and registered but never commissioned her; it sold her in 1801.
On 9 March 1793, Meerman, of Zeeland, Captain Cornelis Schalk, captured Frende Suskene, John Thomsen, master, off Walcheren. Frende Suskene, of and from Christiansand, was on her way to Ostend or Calais with deals, balks, and users. Lieutenant S. Oudekesk Pool brought her into Dover the next day."News". Lloyd's Evening Post (London, England), March 13, 1793 - March 15, 1793; Issue 5574.
In 1795, at the time of the Batavian Revolution the British Admiralty sent a messenger to Plymouth on 20 January 1795, to the admiral there to detain all Dutch vessels in port. There were six naval vessels, Meerman among them. (Initial British press reports referred to her as Steerman.) There were also six homeward-bound East Indiamen, three outward-bound East Indiamen, and some 60 to 70 other merchant vessels."News". Whitehall Evening Post (1770) (London, England), January 22, 1795 - January 24, 1795; Issue 7519."News". Morning Post and Fashionable World (London, England), 23 January 1795; Issue 7170. Vice Admiral Sir Richard Onslow and the British Royal Navy took possession 4 March 1796. The crews were removed from their vessels and taken to prison ships."News". Gazetteer and New Daily Advertiser (London, England), 8 March 1796; Issue 20 979. In September orders arrived at Plymouth that the Dutch naval vessels be equipped for immediate service."Business". London Packet or New Lloyd's Evening Post (London, England), September 16, 1796 - September 19, 1796; Issue 4227.
The Navy named and registered Miermen on 25 October 1796, but never commissioned her. The "Principal officers and commissioners of His Majesty's Navy" offered Miermen for sale on 31 August 1801. She sold on that day for £160.
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