HMS Hercules (1759)

HMS Hercules was a 74-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, designed by Sir Thomas Slade and built at Deptford Dockyard by Adam Hayes and launched on 15 March 1759.[1]

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Hercules.

Model of a 74-gun ship, third rate, circa 1760. Thought to be either HMS Hercules or HMS Thunderer from 1760.
History
Royal Navy EnsignGreat Britain
NameHMS Hercules
Ordered15 July 1756
BuilderDeptford Dockyard
Launched15 March 1759
FateSold out of the service, 1784
General characteristics [1]
Class and typeHercules-class ship of the line
Tons burthen160834⁄94 (bm)
Length166 ft 6 in (50.75 m) (gundeck)
Beam46 ft 6 in (14.17 m)
Depth of hold19 ft 9 in (6.02 m)
PropulsionSails
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Armament
  • 74 guns:
  • Lower gundeck: 28 × 32 pdrs
  • Upper gundeck: 28 × 18 pdrs
  • Quarter deck: 14 × 9 pdrs
  • Forecastle: 4 × 9 pdrs

Service history

On 20 November 1759 she took part in the huge conflict between the British and French fleets at the Battle of Quiberon Bay.

The ship took part as part of Admiral Rodney's fleet in the Battle of the Saintes under the command of Captain Henry Savage[2] on 12 April 1782 against a French fleet, where she suffered six killed and 18 wounded. She was the third ship of the second wave in the part of the British line of battle and the first to hit the French flagship the Ville de Paris.[3] Savage commanded from an armchair on the main deck due to his suffering from gout. Savage was injured in the chair, but following treatment below deck reappeared in the chair in bandages.[4]

She was paid off in July 1783 and sold at Plymouth in March 1784 for £1300.[1]

Officers of note

Notes
  1. Lavery, Ships of the Line vol.1, p176.
  2. Famous Fighters of the Fleet, Edward Fraser, 1904, p.108
  3. Willis, Fighting Ships 1750-1850, p. 50
  4. Famous Fighters of the Fleet, Edward Fraser, 1904, p.109
  5. "British Third Rate ship of the line 'Hercules' (1759)".

References
  • Lavery, Brian (2003) The Ship of the Line - Volume 1: The development of the battlefleet 1650-1850. Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-252-8.
  • Willis, Sam (2007) Fighting Ships 1750-1850 Quercus. ISBN 1-84724-171-9.
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