by Sam Willis
Northumberland (74)
Dispatch folio 12 Taken by Orion Built and launched 24 February 1779 to July 1780, Brest; launched 3 May 1780 Size 1478 / 1500 / 2967 tonnes; 1811 2/94 or 1827 87/94 tons BOM Armament (1793): 28x36, 30x18, 16x8 + 4x36 obusiers + 6x1 perriers ‘Nature of the prize’ 74 guns Complement 11–17 officers, 690/734 men Complement in the action 700 men under Francois-Pierre Etienne Casualties 60 killed, 100 wounded (Demerliac and the Gazette); 100 killed, 200 wounded (Roche) Purchased for £16,313 7s 4d Bounty awarded £3,500 0s 0d Prize money awarded £60,000 for the Sans Pareil, Juste, Impéteux, Achille, América, and Northumberland to the warrant officers, petty officers and foremastmen, ‘in part of the money to be paid for the purchase and for the bounty due to the captors’, by royal warrant of 22 June 1794 Brought to Portsmouth Crew confined at Tenterden, Tavistock, Plymouth (Prudent); February 1796 Ashburton, April 1796 Ashford Fate Purchased October 1794 but never fitted for sea by the RN; broken up at Plymouth, November 1795. Notes Sister ship of the Achille. Named for the Northumberland (64), captured off Ushant in 1744 and in French service until wrecked (as the Atlas store ship) off Ushant in 1781. Sources ADM 2/272; ADM 7/354; ADM 43/33; ADM 43/80; ADM 103/503; ADM 106/2219; HCA 8/89; London Gazette no. 14055 (16 October 1797); Demerliac; Gardiner, Fleet Battle and Blockade; Lyon; Roche; Winfield.
Républicain (18/20)
Dispatch folio 8 Name in dispatches Républicaine Taken by Audacious and Niger Built and launched 1793 to November 1794, Bordeaux; launched September 1793 Armament 18x8 (20 ports) Complement 5–9 officers, 136/140 men Complement in the action 125 men under Jean Bouyer Bounty awarded £625 0s 0d Fate Burnt by order of Lord Howe before the battle. Notes Corvette, captured 25 May. Not to be confused with the Républicain (110), which fought the Queen Charlotte and survived the battle. Sources ADM 18/121; ADM 43/33; ADM 43/80; James; Demerliac; Roche.
Sans Pareil (80)
Dispatch folio 12 Name in dispatches Le Sans Pareil Name in RN service Sans Pareil Taken by Royal George Built and launched October 1790 to September 1793, Brest; launched 8 June 1793 Size 2000–2034 / 2000 / 3868 tonnes; 2242 22/94 tons BOM Armament 30x36, 32x24, 18x12 + 4x36 obusiers + 6x1 perriers Armament in RN service GD 30x24, UD 30x24, QD 2x24 + 12x24cr, FC 2x24 + 4x24cr ‘Nature of the prize’ 80 guns Complement 17 officers, 839 men Complement in the action 814 men under Jean Francois Courand Complement in RN service 738 Casualties 264 killed (260 Gazette) and 120 wounded Purchased for £33,978 18s 8d Bounty awarded £4,070 0s 0d Prize money awarded £60,000 for the Sans Pareil, Juste, Impéteux, Achille, América, and Northumberland to the warrant officers, petty officers and foremastmen, ‘in part of the money to be paid for the purchase and for the bounty due to the captors’, by royal warrant of 22 June 1794 Brought to Portsmouth Fate Purchased, August 1794; fitted for sea, June 1794 to April 1795; served as the flagship of Lord Hugh Seymour in the Channel, 1795–98; in the Caribbean, 1799–1801; prison ship at Plymouth, 1807; sheer hulk there, 1810–38; broken up there, October 1842. Notes One of eight sister ships designed by Sane; six were taken by the British. Also appears in the Admiralty records as the Sans Paraille. Sources ADM 2/272; ADM 7/34; ADM 18/121; ADM 43/33; ADM 43/80; ADM 106/2219; HCA 8/89; London Gazette no. 14055 (16 October 1797); Demerliac; Gardiner, Fleet Battle and Blockade; Lyon; Roche; Winfield.
Vengeur du Peuple or Vengeur (74)
Taken by Brunswick Built and launched February 1763 to November 1767, Toulon; launched 16 July 1766 as Marseillais Size 1550 / 1550 / c. 2900 tonnes Armament (from 1793): 28x36, 30x18, 16x8 + 4x36 obusiers ‘Nature of the prize’ 74 guns; ‘afterwards foundering with great part of her crew’ Complement 12–17 officers, 706/713 men Complement in the action ‘at least’ 700 men under Francois Renaudin Casualties 456 (total) or 267 (Demerliac) or 277 (Roche) survived (Gazette: ‘320 sunk’) Bounty awarded £3,500 0s 0d Fate Sank shortly after the battle from the damage received. Notes Renamed in February 1794. Bounty paid for 700 men. Sources ADM 2/272; ADM 7/354; ADM 18/121; ADM 43/33; ADM 43/80; Demerliac; Roche.
Bridport’s action, 23 June 1795
Alexandre or Alexander (74)
Dispatch folio 148 Name in dispatches Alexander Name in RN service Alexander Taken by Queen Charlotte Built and launched April 1774 to December 1778, Deptford; launched 8 October 1778 Size c. 1400 / 1400 / c. 2700 tonnes; 1621 tons BOM Armament 28x32, 28x16, 18x9 Armament in RN service LD 28x32, UD 28x18, QD 14x9, FC 4x9 Complement 16 officers, 650 men Complement in the action 666 men under Francois Guillemet Complement in RN service 550 Casualties 220 killed and wounded ‘Nature of the prize’ 74 guns Purchased for £12,369 15s 1d Bounty awarded £3,330 0s 0d Brought to Portsmouth Crew confined at Plymouth (Prudent) Fate Served in the Channel and Mediterranean, and at the Nile under Alexander Ball; lazarette at Plymouth, 1805; broken up there, November 1819. Notes Originally captured from the British off the Scillies by the Jean Bart, 6 November 1794. Not to be confused with the Alexandre (80) captured by Duckworth in 1806. Sources ADM 2/276; ADM 7/354; ADM 43/34; ADM 43/80; ADM 103/503; HCA 8/89; Gardiner, Fleet Battle and Blockade; Demerliac; Roche.
Formidable (74)
Dispatch folio 148 Name in RN service Belleisle Taken by Barfleur and London Built and launched August 1791 to June 1794, Rochefort; launched 29 April 1794 as Marat Size 1537 / 1550 / 3069 tonnes; 188 97/94 tons BOM Armament (1794): 28x36 (30 ports), 30x18, 16x8 (+ perhaps 4x36 obusiers from October) Armament in RN service GD 30x32, UD 30x24, QD 2x9 + 14x32cr, FC 2x9 + 2x24cr, RH 6x24cr Complement 17 officers, 690/706 men Complement in the action 717 men under Charles-Alexandre Durand-Linois Complement in RN service 700 Casualties 320 killed and wounded ‘Nature of the prize’ 80 guns Purchased for £24,789 9s 6d; and £6,861 9s 8d for the stores of the Tigre and Formidable Bounty awarded £3,585 0s 0d Brought to Plymouth Crew confined at Plymouth (Prudent) Fate Purchased, September 1795; served in the Channel Fleet from 1801, including as the flagship of Sir William Cornwallis, and in the Mediterranean; was in the lee column at Trafalgar under William Hargood; in 1806 was at the destruction of the Impétueux (74), in 1809 at the capture of Martinique, and in the Walcheren expedition; in Ordinary at Plymouth, 1809, broken up there, 1814. Notes Originally Lion; September 1793, Marat; May 1795, Formidable. Bounty apparently paid only to the London. Not to be confused with the Formidable (90), launched at Chatham in 1777, which served until 1813. Sources ADM 2/276; ADM 7/354; ADM 18/122; ADM 43/80; ADM 103/503; ADM 106/2220; HCA 8/89; Gardiner, Fleet Battle and Blockade; Demerliac; Roche; Winfield.
Tigre (74)
Dispatch folio 148 Name in RN service Tigre Taken by Queen and London Built and launched October 1790 or January 1791 to August 1793, Brest; launched 8 May 1793 Size 1537 / 1550 / 3069 tonnes; 1886 67/94 tons BOM Armament 28x36 (30 ports), 30x18, 16x8 + 4x36 obusiers Armament in RN service LD 28x32 + 2x68cr, UD 28x18 + 2x68cr, QD 4x18 + 10x32cr, FC 2x18 + 2x32cr, RH 6x18cr ‘Nature of the prize’ 74 guns Complement 17 officers, 690/706 men Complement in the action 726 men under Jacques Bedout Complement in RN service 640 Casualties 130 killed and wounded Purchased for £24,352 14s 2d; and £6,861 9s 8d for the stores of the Tigre and Formidable Bounty awarded £3,630 0s 0d Brought to Portsmouth Fate Purchased, September 1795; served extensively, including under Sir Sidney Smith at Acre, until paid off in August or September 1815; powder hulk at Plymouth until broken up there, June 1817. Sources ADM 2/276; ADM 7/354; ADM 43/34; ADM 43/80; ADM 106/2220; HCA 8/89; James; Demerliac; Gardiner, Fleet Battle and Blockade; Roche; Winfield.
Cape St Vincent, 14 February 1797
Salvador del Mundo (112)
Dispatch folio 153 Name in RN service Salvador del Mundo Taken by Orion Built and launched unknown – 1787, El Ferrol; launched 1786 Size 2200 tons; 2397 47/94 tons BOM Armament 30x36, 32x24, 30x12, 20x8 Armament in RN service GD 30x32, MD 32x24, UD 32x12, QD 12x9, FC 6x9 Complement 40 officers, c. 850 men Complement in RN service 839 Complement in the action 819 men Casualties 5 officers killed, 3 wounded; 37 artillerists, seamen and soldiers killed, 121 wounded Purchased for £42
,286 11s 1d Bounty awarded £4,148 14s 11d Brought to Plymouth, 5 October 1797; paid off, December 1797 Fate Purchased, December 1797; served as a receiving ship at Plymouth, then the flagship of four admirals, including Sir Robert Calder; broken up there, February 1815. Sources ADM 43/40; ADM 43/80; ADM 106/2223; London Gazette no. 13987 (3 March 1797); Gardiner, Fleet Battle and Blockade; Harbron; Lyon; Winfield.
San Isidro (74)
Dispatch folio 153 Name in dispatches San Ysidro Name in RN service San Ysidro Taken by Excellent Built and launched 1786, Ferrol Size 1835 78/94 tons BOM Armament in RN service GD 28x32, UD 30x18, QD 8x9, FC 6x9 Complement 590 Complement in the action 525 men Casualties 4 officers killed, 8 wounded; 25 artillerists, seamen and soldiers killed, 55 wounded Purchased for £21,257 16s 10d Bounty awarded £2,659 9s 0d Brought to Plymouth, 5 October 1797 Fate Purchased, December 1797; hulked at Plymouth as a prison ship, October 1797; sold, 3 November 1814. Sources: ADM 43/40; ADM 43/80; ADM 106/2223; London Gazette no. 13987 (3 March 1797); Gardiner, Fleet Battle and Blockade; Harbron; Lyon; Winfield.
San José (114)
Dispatch folio 153 Name in dispatches San Josef Name in RN service San Josef Taken by Captain Built and launched 1783, Ferrol Size 2163 tons; 2456 24/94 tons BOM Armament 32x36, 30x24, 32x12, 18x8, 6x24 mortars for grapeshot Armament in RN service GD 32x32, MD 32x24, UD 32x12, QD 12x9, FC 6x9 Complement 839 Complement in the action 917 Casualties 2 officers killed, 5 wounded; 44 artillerists, seamen and soldiers killed, 591 wounded Purchased for £46,142 17s 9d Bounty awarded £4,645 3s 6d Brought to Plymouth, 5 October 1797, fitted for sea, June 1799 to January 1801 Fate Purchased, December 1797; served at sea in the Napoleonic War, in the blockade of Brest as the flagship of Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Cotton, in the Walcheren Expedition under Richard Dunn, in the Channel Fleet as the flagship of Admiral Lord Keith; in action against the French off Toulon 5 November 1813 as the flagship of Rear Admiral Sir Richard King. Variously in Ordinary and a flagship at Plymouth 1815–37. Gunnery training ship at Plymouth from January 1837. Paid off 1846 and broken up at Plymouth, May 1849. Sources ADM 43/40; ADM 43/80; ADM 106/2223; London Gazette no. 13987 (3 March 1797); Gardiner, Fleet Battle and Blockade; Harbron; Lyon; Winfield.
San Nicolas (82)
Dispatch folio 153 Name in RN service San Nicolas Taken by Captain Built and launched 1769, Cartagena Size 1942 tons BOM Armament in RN service GD 30x32, UD 32x18, QD 14x9, FC 6x9 Complement in the action 630 Complement in RN service 719 Casualties 4 officers killed, 8 wounded; 140 artillerists, seamen and soldiers killed, 51 wounded Purchased for £28,260 4s 5d Bounty awarded £3,191 6s 10d Brought to Plymouth, 5 October 1797 Fate Purchased, December 1797; hulked at Plymouth as a prison ship, August 1798; in service, 1801–2 and 1804–11; sold at Plymouth, 3 November 1814. Sources ADM 43/40; ADM 43/80; ADM 106/2223; London Gazette no. 13987 (3 March 1797); Gardiner, Fleet Battle and Blockade; Harbron; Lyon; Winfield.
Camperdown, 11 October 1797
Admiraal Tjerk Hiddes de Vries (64)
Dispatch folio 183 Name in RN service Admiral de Vries Built and launched 1781, Harlingen Size 1360 54/94 tons BOM Armament 26x32, 26x18, 14x8 Armament in RN service LD 28x24, UD 28x18, QD 8x9, FC 8x9; as a troopship, LD none, UD 24x18, QD 8x9, FC 8x9 Complement in the action 448 men under Jan Barent Zegers Complement in RN service 491 (250 as troopship) ‘Nature of the prize’ Captain Zegers; 68 guns, 450 men Purchased for £16,539 4s 10d Bounty awarded £2,269 8s 0d Brought to Chatham, 7 January 1798 Fate Purchased, December 1797; transport service, March 1798, and fitted as a troopship, July 1798; prison ship at Jamaica, December 1799; sold there, February 1806. Notes Rear squadron (Rear-Admiral Bloys). The largest of the Dutch 68-gun ships. Sources: ADM 7/354; ADM 43/40; ADM 43/80; ADM 106/2223; London Gazette no. 14055 (16 October 1797); James; Gardiner, Fleet Battle and Blockade; Lyon; Winfield.
Alkmaar (56)
Name in RN service Alkmaar Taken by Monmouth Built and launched 1783, Enkhuizen Size 1040 83/94 tons BOM Armament 24x18, 24x12, 8x8 Armament in RN service (from 12 March 1801): UD 18x9, QD 6x9; as a storeship, UD 12x9, QD 4x6 Complement in the action 321 men under Jan Willem Kraft Casualties 26 killed, 62 wounded ‘Nature of the prize’ Captain Kraft; 56 guns, 350 men Purchased for £11,593 5s 9d Bounty awarded £1,626 1s 3d Brought to Sheerness, 20 October 1797 Fate Purchased, December 1797; troopship, 1798; flagship of Rear-Admirals Holloway and Totty at Sheerness, 1800 and 1801; hospital ship at Portsmouth, 1801; storeship for the Downs, 1805; laid up, 1807; in Ordinary at Sheerness, 1812; sold there, 30 November 1815. Notes Van squadron (Vice-Admiral Reyntjes). Sources ADM 2/283; ADM 7/354; ADM 43/40; ADM 43/80; ADM 106/2223; London Gazette no. 14055 (16 October 1797); Gardiner, Fleet Battle and Blockade; Winfield.
Delft (64)
Dispatch folio 183 Taken by Monmouth Armament 24x18, 24x12, 8x8 Complement in the action 355 men under Gerret Vandooren Casualties 43 killed, 76 wounded ‘Nature of the prize’ Captain Verdoorn; 56 guns, 350 men; ‘afterwards sunk’ Bounty awarded £1,798 5s 11d Fate Sank after the battle (14 October). Notes Van squadron (Vice-Admiral Reyntjes). Not to be confused with the Hercules. Sources ADM 7/354; ADM 43/40; ADM 43/80; London Gazette no. 14055 (16 October 1797); James; Gardiner, Fleet Battle and Blockade; Lyon; Winfield.
Embuscade (32)
Name in RN service Helder Built and launched 1794–95, Rotterdam; launched 23 April 1795 Size 770 tons BOM (surveyed for purchase as 769 62/94) Armament in RN service UD 26x12, QD 4x6 + 4x24cr, FC 2x6 + 2x24cr; as floating battery, UD 24x24cr, QD 18x8cr Complement in RN service 244; 155 as floating battery ‘Nature of the prize’ Captain-Lieutenant Huys; 32 guns, 270 men; ‘afterwards escaped & got into the Texel’ Value awarded £9,615 0s 0d (including £451 16s 3d for masts and spars, £470 0s 0d for copper bolts, sheathing, braces, and pintles, and £1,763 3s 9d for furniture and stores) Fate Escaped, but was part of the squadron that surrendered to Admiral Mitchell’s squadron, 30 August 1799. Purchased, April 1800; added as Ambuscade but renamed Helder, 25 March 1803, before entering service. Floating battery in the Humber, 1803–4; sold at Sheerness, June 1807. Notes Rear squadron (Rear-Admiral Bloys). Originally Jonge Willem, purchased from the Dutch East India Company on the stocks in January 1795. Not to be confused with the Helder, Dutch Heldin (28), taken in the Nieuwe Diep with twelve other ships, an Indiaman, and a sheer hulk, by the Circe of Admiral Mitchell’s squadron on 28 August 1799. The value of the Heldin was £7,287 18s 6d. The total value of the ships taken by the Circe on 28 August was £37,413 13s 5d and the total value of the ships taken on 30 August was £206,432 10s 14d. Sources ADM 7/354; ADM 106/2226; London Gazette no. 14055 (16 October 1797); James; Gardiner, Fleet Battle and Blockade; Winfield.
Gelikheid (68)
Dispatch folio 183 Name in RN service Gelikheid Built and launched 1788, Amsterdam as Prins Frederick Willem Size 1304 47/94 tons BOM Armament 26x32, 26x18, 16x8 Armament in RN service LD 26x24, UD 26x18, QD 10x9, FC 4x9 Complement in the action 447 men under Hendrick van der Ruijsch Complement in RN service 491; 73 as hulk Casualties 40 killed, and many wounded ‘Nature of the prize’ Captain Ruysen; 68 guns, 450 men Purchased for £18,982 17s 6d Bounty awarded £2,264 6s 8d Brought to Sheerness, October 1797, then Chatham, 8 January 1798 Fate Purchased, December 1797; prison ship at Chatham, 1798–1800; flagship of Rear-Admiral Thornborough in the North Sea, 1803, then in November a guardship in the Humber; sheer hulk at Falmouth, 1807; hulk at Portsmouth, 1813; sold there, 1 September 1814. Notes Rear squadron (Rear-Admiral Bloys). Name changed 1795. Sources ADM 2/283; ADM 7/354; ADM 43/40; ADM 43/80; ADM 106/2223; London Gazette no. 14055 (16 October 1797); James; Gardiner, Fleet Battle and Blockade; Lyon; Winfield.
Haarlem (64)
Name in RN service Haerlem / Haarlem Built and launched 1785, Amsterdam Size 1324 22/94 tons BOM Armament 26x24, 26x18, 16x8 Armament in RN service LD 28x24, UD 28x18, QD perhaps 2x9, FC 2x9; as troopship: LD none, UD 24x18, QD perhaps 2x9, FC 2x9 Complement in the action 445 men under Olfort Wiggerts Complement in RN service 491; 250 as troopship ‘Nature of the prize
’ Captain Wiggerts; 68 guns, 450 men Purchased for £18,205 17s 4d Bounty awarded £2,254 4s 0d Brought to Sheerness, October 1797, then Chatham, 8 January 1798 Fate Purchased, December 1797; troopship, 1798; to Egypt, 1801; Mediterranean, 1802; in Ordinary at Chatham, 1804–05; to Customs c. 1807; receiving ship, Chatham, 1811; sold there, 2 May 1816. Notes Van squadron (Vice-Admiral Reyntjes). Sources ADM 2/283; ADM 7/354; ADM 43/40; ADM 106/2223; London Gazette no. 14055 (16 October 1797); James; Gardiner, Fleet Battle and Blockade; Lyon; Winfield.
Hercules (64)
Name in RN service Delft Taken by Venerable Built and launched 1781, Dort Size 1266 43/94 tons BOM Armament 26x32, 26x18, 14x8 Armament in RN service (as troopship): LD 26x24, UD 28x18, QD 4x9 + 8x24cr, FC 4x9 + 2x24cr Complement in the action 449 men, 4 women, 1 girl under Van Rysoort Complement in RN service 491 (250 as troopship) Purchased for £18,434 16s 4d Bounty awarded £2,274 9s 3d Brought to Sheerness, October 1797, then Chatham, 8 January 1798 Fate Purchased, December 1797; troopship, 1799; powder hulk at Chatham, 1802; sunk as a breakwater at Harwich, 19 September 1822. Notes Rear squadron (Rear-Admiral Bloys). Surrendered after she caught fire; it was extinguished but all her gunpowder had been thrown overboard. Renamed 30 August 1798; not to be confused with the Delft. Sources: ADM 2/283; ADM 43/40; ADM 43/80; ADM 106/2223; London Gazette no. 14055 (16 October 1797); James; Gardiner, Fleet Battle and Blockade; Lyon; Winfield.
