Marie Joséphine of Savoy future king of Sardinia) was married to her sister-in-law Princess Clotilde of France in 1775. Her eldest brother-in-law, Dauphin Louis Auguste (the future Louis XVI of France), had married Marie Antoinette one year earlier. Marie Joséphine was by view of rank and connections deemed very suitable for a marriage to a French prince, and she had been regarded as a suitable bride of the Dauphin prior to his marriage in 1770. The marriage was supported by Madame du Barry, who wished to create an ally within the royal family and who the king allowed to form the household of the
HMS Marie Antoinette (1793) Antoinette" made up part of the squadron commanded by the newly promoted Rear-Admiral John Ford and accompanying Brigadier-General John Whyte that briefly captured Port-au-Prince. Records indicate that "Marie Antoinette" did not play any significant role in the siege. At the time some forty-five vessels lay in harbour and these were all made prizes. In 1796 she made up part of a small squadron that captured the schooner "Charlotte" and brig "Sally". Perkins remained with her until he was promoted master and commander into the 14-gun brig "Drake" in early 1797. It is not clear who was captain of "Marie Antoinette"