French ship Formidable (1795)

"Fine deed of arms by Captain Troude", Antoine Léon Morel-Fatio
History
France
Name:	Formidable
Builder:	Toulon
Laid down:	August 1794
Launched:	17 March 1795
In service:	27 October 1795
Renamed:	Renamed Figuieres on 4 December 1794 but reverted to Formidable on 31 May 1795
Captured:	4 November 1805
United Kingdom
Name:	Brave
Namesake:	Bravery
Acquired:	4 November 1805
Fate:	Broken up in April 1816
General characteristics
Class and type:	80-gun Tonnant-class ship-of-the-line
Tons burthen:	2,248  55⁄94 bm
Length:	194 ft 6 in (59.28 m) (gundeck) 159 ft 7.75 in (48.6601 m) (keel)
Beam:	51 ft 5.5 in (15.685 m)
Depth of hold:	21 ft 6 in (6.55 m)
Sail plan:	Full rigged ship
Complement:	690
Armament:	French service: 30 × 36-pounder long guns 32 × 24-pounder long guns 18 × 12-pounder long guns 4 × obusiers de vaisseau British service: Lower deck: 32 × 32-pounder guns Upper deck: 30 × 18-pounder guns Quarterdeck: 2 × 12-pounder guns + 14 × 32-pounder carronades Forecastle: 2 × 12-pounder guns + 4 × 32-pounder carronades

Formidable was an 80-gun Tonnant class ship of the line of the French Navy, laid down in August 1794 and given the name Formidable on 5 October, but renamed Figuieres on 4 December 1794, although the name was restored to Formidable on 31 May 1795 after she was launched at Toulon on 17 March 1795. She participated in the Battle of Algeciras, the Battle of Cape Finisterre and several other actions before the British captured her at the Battle of Cape Ortegal on 4 November 1805. The British took her into service as HMS Brave. She was sold to be broken up in April 1816.

On 6 July 1801 she fought in the Battle of Algeciras under captain Landais Lalonde, who was killed in the action. Command then transferred to capitaine de frégate Amable Troude, formerly second in command of the Dessaix.

On 13 July, as she sailed isolated behind the French fleet, she was chased by the frigate HMS Thames and the ships of the line HMS Venerable (74), HMS Caesar (80) and HMS Superb (74). She allowed the Venerable catch up and took her under heavy fire, leaving her dismasted and in danger of sinking. The rest of the British squadron had to come to aid the Venerable, allowing the Formidable to escape to Cádiz, acclaimed by the population. Troude was immediately promoted to capitaine de vaisseau. Bonaparte later met with him and called him "the French Horatius".

In 1802 and 1803, Formidable served in Toulon under Admiral Latouche Tréville.