HMS Royal George (1756)
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HMS Royal George, right, shown fictitiously
at the launch of HMS Cambridge in 1755 by John Cleveley the Elder (1757) |
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| History | |
|---|---|
 Great Britain
|
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| Name: | HMS Royal George |
| Ordered: | 29 August 1746 |
| Builder: | Woolwich Dockyard |
| Laid down: | 8 January 1747 |
| Launched: | 18 February 1756 |
| Commissioned: | October 1755 (before launch) |
| Fate: | Foundered, 29 August 1782, at Spithead |
| Notes: |
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| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | 1745 Establishment 100-gun first-rate ship of the line |
| Tons burthen: | 2047 bm |
| Length: |
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| Beam: | 51 ft 9.5 in (15.8 m) |
| Depth of hold: | 21 ft 6 in (6.6 m) |
| Propulsion: | Sails |
| Sail plan: | Full rigged ship |
| Armament: |
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HMS Royal George was a 100-gun first-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built at Woolwich Dockyard and launched on 18 February 1756. The largest warship in the world at the time of launching, she saw service during the Seven Years' War including being Admiral Sir Edward Hawke's flagship at the Battle of Quiberon Bay and later taking part in the Battle of Cape St Vincent. She sank undergoing routine maintenance work whilst anchored off Portsmouth on 29 August 1782 with the loss of more than 800 lives, one of the most serious maritime losses to occur in British waters.
Ordered on 29 August 1746, she was laid down at Woolwich Dockyard in 1746 as Royal Anne, and built to the draught specified by the 1745 Establishment. She was renamed Royal George during building and launched on 18 February 1756. At the time of her launch in 1756, she was the largest warship in the world. She served in the Seven Years' War, commissioning under her first commander, Captain Richard Dorrill in October 1755, and after being completed, joined the Western Squadron or Channel Fleet under Admiral Sir Edward Hawke in May 1756. Dorrill was succeeded by Captain John Campbell in July 1756, who was in turn succeeded by Captain Matthew Buckle in early 1757.Royal George was the flagship of Vice-Admiral Edward Boscawen at this time, and flew his flag in the Raid on Rochefort in September that year. Captain Piercy Brett took command in 1758, during which time Royal George became the flagship of Admiral Lord George Anson. Brett was succeeded by Captain Alexander Hood in November 1758, though Royal George's former captain, Richard Dorrill, was back in command the following year, until being invalided out of the ship in June. Dorrill's replacement was another former captain, John Campbell, who commanded her in the blockade of the French fleet at Brest. She became Sir Edward Hawke's flagship in early November of that year, when his previous flagship, Ramillies, went into dock for repairs. Hawke commanded the fleet from Royal George at the Battle of Quiberon Bay on 20 November 1759, where she sank the French ship Superbe.
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Wikipedia