HMS Hampton Court (1709)

HMS Hampton Court was a 70-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built at Rotherhithe according to the 1706 Establishment and launched on 19 August 1709.[1]

Hampton Court destroying the French frigate La Nymphe in 1757 in the Mediterranean.
History
Great Britain
Name	HMS Hampton Court
Builder	Taylor, Rotherhithe
Launched	19 August 1709
Fate	Broken up, 1774
General characteristics as built[1]
Class and type	1706 Establishment 70-gun third-rate ship of the line
Tons burthen	1,137 bm
Length	150 ft (45.7 m) (gundeck)
Beam	41 ft (12.5 m)
Depth of hold	17 ft 4 in (5.3 m)
Propulsion	Sails
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Armament	70 guns: Gundeck: 26 × 24 pdrs Upper gundeck: 26 × 12 pdrs Quarterdeck: 14 × 6 pdrs Forecastle: 4 × 6 pdrs
General characteristics after 1744 rebuild[2]
Class and type	1741 proposals 64-gun third rate ship of the line
Tons burthen	1,283
Length	154 ft (46.9 m) (gundeck)
Beam	44 ft (13.4 m)
Depth of hold	18 ft 11 in (5.8 m)
Propulsion	Sails
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Armament	64 guns: Gundeck: 26 × 32 pdrs Upper gundeck: 26 × 18 pdrs Quarterdeck: 10 × 9 pdrs Forecastle: 2 × 9 pdrs

Hampton Court was part of Vice-Admiral Edward Vernon's fleet and took part in the expedition to Cartagena de Indias during the War of Jenkins' Ear.

On 12 December 1741 orders were issued for Hampton Court to be taken to pieces and rebuilt by Joseph Allin the younger at Deptford Dockyard as a 64-gun third rate to the 1741 proposals of the 1719 Establishment. She was relaunched on 3 April 1744.[2]

In November 1745 she encountered her fellow Royal Navy vessel HMS Defiance. The crew of both vessels mistook the other for a French man-o-war and opened fire at long range. The engagement ended after half an hour, when crew aboard Defiance observed British markings on the cannonballs striking their ship and signaled for a truce.[3]

Hampton Court remained in service until 1774, when she was broken up.[2]

Shown here as a member Sir George Pocock's Blue Squadron, circa 1762