{{Infobox ship |section1={{Infobox ship/image | image = | image_caption = }}
|section2={{Infobox ship/career | hide_header = | country = Confederate States | flag = {{shipboxflag|Confederate States of America|naval}} | name = ''Clarence'' | namesake = | owner = | operator = | registry = | route = | ordered = | awarded = | builder = | original_cost = | yard_number = | way_number = | laid_down = | launched = 1857 | sponsor = | christened = | completed = | acquired = | commissioned = | recommissioned = | decommissioned = | maiden_voyage = | in_service = | out_of_service = | renamed = | reclassified = | refit = | struck = | reinstated = | homeport = | identification = | motto = | nickname = | honours = | honors = | captured = May 6, 1863 by the CSS ''Florida'' and converted to the CSN | fate = Burned to prevent capture on June 12, 1863 | notes = | badge = }}
|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics | hide_header = | header_caption = | class = | type = | tonnage = | displacement = | tons_burthen = | length = {{convert|114|ft|m|abbr=on}} | beam = {{convert|24|ft|m|abbr=on}} | height = | draught = | draft = {{convert|11|ft|m|abbr=on}} | depth = | hold_depth = | decks = | deck_clearance = | ramps = | ice_class = | power = | propulsion = | sail_plan = | speed = | range = | endurance = | test_depth = | boats = | capacity = | troops = | complement = 4 officers, 17 men | crew = | time_to_activate = | sensors = | EW = | armament = 1 6-pounder boat howitzer, several Quaker guns | armour = | armor = | aircraft = | aircraft_facilities = | notes = }} }} '''CSS ''Clarence''''', also known as ''Coquette'', was originally a brig from Baltimore captured by the Confederate cruiser CSS ''Florida'' during the American Civil War and converted into a Confederate cruiser for commerce raiding.
Built in 1857 for Baltimore, Maryland fruit dealer J. Crosby, it was transporting a cargo of coffee from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to Baltimore when the CSS ''Florida'' captured the ''Clarence'' off the coast of Brazil. Lt. Charles W. Read was appointed commander and a sufficient number of the ''Florida''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s crew were transferred to the new cruiser to man the ship.<ref name="danfs">{{DANFS}}</ref>
Lieutenant Read had requested that, rather than burn ''Clarence'', he might try, with the ship's papers, to sail into Hampton Roads, Virginia, and if possible destroy or capture a Union gunboat and burn Union merchant vessels congregated at Fortress Monroe. ''Florida''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s Commander John Newland Maffitt armed ''Clarence'' with one gun so that Read might capture prizes on his way to Hampton Roads.<ref name="danfs" />
In its brief career as a Confederate cruiser it captured a number of ships: The ''Whistling Wind'', ''Kate Stewart'', ''Mary Alvina'', ''Mary Schindler'' were burned, and the ''Alfred H. Partridge'' was bonded. Its final capture was the bark ''Tacony'' on June 12, 1863, which being a better ship suited for commerce raiding, the crew and armaments were transferred to it and the ''Clarence'' was destroyed.<ref name="scharf">{{Scharf: History of the Confederate States Navy}}</ref>{{page needed|date=November 2025}}
== Officers and crew == * Lt. Charles W. Read, commander<ref name="scharf" /> * Billups, Matthewson, and Pride, master's mates<ref name="scharf" /> * Brown, engineer<ref name="scharf" /> * 16 men<ref name="scharf" />
== Notes and references == {{reflist}}
{{CSN cruisers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Clarence}} Category:Cruisers of the Confederate States Navy Category:Raids of the American Civil War Category:1857 ships Category:Shipwrecks of the American Civil War Category:Maritime incidents in June 1863