British Third Rate ship of the line 'Speaker' (1650)

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Parcoe StevensBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1695-1697
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Service 1691-1695
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Naval Sailor
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Naval Sailor
Service 1694-1704
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British 32 Gun
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Service 1696-1697
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Speaker -> 1660 Mary	132
Nominal Guns	50	BWAS-1603
Nationality	Commonwealth of England
Operator	State Navy
Ordered	12.4.1649	BWAS-1603
Launched	4.1650	B065
How acquired	Purpose built	B065
Shipyard	Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich	BWAS-1603
Designed by	Christopher PettBritish Ship Builder Service 1620-1668	B065
Constructor	Christopher PettBritish Ship Builder Service 1620-1668	BWAS-1603
Category	Third Rate	BWAS-1603
Ship Type	Ship of the Line	B065
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	B065
Broken Up to Rebuild	1687	B065
Becomes	British Third Rate ship of the line 'Mary' (1688) (60) 1688-1703 British 60 Gun 3rd Rate Ship of the Line

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric Equivalent
Length of Gundeck143' 0"
DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentB065
Length of Gundeck143' 0"Imperial Feet43.5864
Length of Keel116' 0"Imperial Feet35.3568
Breadth34' 8"Imperial Feet10.414
Depth in Hold14' 6"Imperial Feet4.3053
Burthen727Tons BM
DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentB028
Length of Gundeck142' 0"
Length of Gundeck142' 0"Imperial Feet43.2816
Breadth35' 0"Imperial Feet10.668
Burthen727Tons BM
DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1603
Length of Gundeck143' 3"Imperial Feet43.5882
Length of Keel116' 0"Imperial Feet35.3568
Breadth34' 8"Imperial Feet10.414
Depth in Hold14' 6"Imperial Feet4.3053
Draught Aft17' 0"Imperial Feet5.1816
Burthen741 ⁴⁹⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

1655Broadside Weight = 401 Imperial Pound ( 181.8537 kg)B065
Gun Deck4 British Demi-Cannon
Gun Deck22 British Culverin
Gun Deck26 British Demi-Culverin
Gun Deck8 British Saker

1662Broadside Weight = 539 Imperial Pound ( 244.4365 kg)B065
Gun Deck20 British Demi-Cannon
Gun Deck4 British Culverin
Gun Deck30 British 12-Pounder
Gun Deck2 British 3-Pounder

1666Broadside Weight = 548 Imperial Pound ( 248.518 kg)B065
Gun Deck20 British Demi-Cannon
Gun Deck4 British Culverin
Gun Deck26 British 12-Pounder
Gun Deck8 British Demi-Culverin

1677Broadside Weight = 654 Imperial Pound ( 296.5893 kg)B065
Gun Deck24 British Demi-Cannon
Gun Deck26 British Culverin
Gun Deck12 British Saker
Gun Deck2 British 3-Pounder

1685Broadside Weight = 462.5 Imperial Pound ( 209.744 kg)B065
Gun Deck24 British 24-Pounder
Gun Deck24 British 12-Pounder
Gun Deck4 British Saker
Gun Deck6 British Saker
Gun Deck2 British 3-Pounder

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
3.1651/52260 BWAS-1603
1660220 BWAS-1603
1666300 BWAS-1603

25 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
1652 - 4.1652CaptainBWAS-16034.1652 - 8.10.1652CaptainBWAS-16038.10.1652 - 1653CaptainBWAS-16031.1653 - 3.1652/53Admiral of the BlueNRS0373.1652/53 - 5.1653CaptainBWAS-16035.1653 - 1654Rear-Admiral of the RedBWAS-16031658CaptainBWAS-16031658CaptainBWAS-16031658 - 1659Rear-AdmiralBWAS-16031659 - 1660CaptainBWAS-16031660CaptainBWAS-16031.4.1661 - 9.10.1662Rear-Admiral† Discharged DeadBWAS-160321.9.1664 - 29.8.1665CaptainBWAS-160330.8.1665 - 14.9.1665CaptainBWAS-160323.11.1665 - 6.1666CaptainBWAS-16031666 - 1668CaptainB0519.6.1666 - 17.2.1666/67Captain ADM 8/1/84B0511.1.1667/68 - 23.12.1669Captain†BWAS-16031.1.1669/70 - 7.4.1672Captain†B0518.4.1672 - 18.9.1672CaptainBWAS-160319.9.1672 - 31.3.1675CaptainBWAS-16033.1672/73 - 5.1673CaptainB05125.12.1677 - 15.1.1678/79CaptainBWAS-160316.1.1678/79 - 22.7.1679CaptainBWAS-16031.9.1679 - 31.3.1680Captain†B051

9 Commissioned Officers

DatesRankNameSource
1664 - 1665LieutenantB0511665 - 1666First LieutenantB0511666 - 1667LieutenantB0511667 - 1668LieutenantB0511667 - 1673LieutenantB05110.12.1677 - 21.3.1677/78First LieutenantODNB21.3.1677/78 - 14.4.1686LieutenantB05110.12.1678 - 14.1.1678/79Second LieutenantB0511679 - 8.4.1681First LieutenantB051

2 Warrant Officers

DatesRankNameSource
1651Purser†SPD-165130.12.1651 - 1651PurserSPD-1651

Service History

DateEventSource
1650Flagship in the Downs and East coastBWAS-1603
4.1650Completed at Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich at a cost of £6669.0.0dBWAS-1603
19.5.1652Battle of Dover
12.8.1652One of eight Frigates sent "to ply off at sea between the Roads and the Ness, to look out for the enemy's men-of-war"BWAS-1603
26.8.1652Ordered to sail "between Dungeness and the French coast" as part of Vice-Admimral William Penn's squadronBWAS-1603
28.9.1652Battle of Kentish Knock
27.11.1652In PortsmouthBWAS-1603
30.11.1652Had secured two prizes, bound from Cadiz for Amsterdam, in Dover. John Gilson still in commandBWAS-1603
30.11.1652Battle of Dungeness
12.1652Lay near DoverNRS030
18.2.1652/53Battle of Portland
10.3.1652/53New mainmast fitted in PortsmouthNRS037
20.4.1653In PortsmouthNRS037
2.6.1653Battle of the Gabbard
1654Refitted as a 54 gun Third Rate
1656In company with and attacked a Spanish West Indies fleet of 8 vessels, two were sunk, two run ashore and two takenBWAS-1603
4.1657Took part in Admiral Blakes attack on Tenrife, where it was disabled
20.4.1657Battle of Santa Cruz
1658Flagship in the DownsBWAS-1603
1659Operations in the soundBWAS-1603
1660Part of squadron escorting king Charles II back to England
3.5.1660Renamed MaryBWAS-1603
1661At TangierBWAS-1603
31.7.1661At AlgiersBWAS-1603
3.6.1665Battle of Lowestoft
1.9.1665Action of 1665-09-03
3.9.1665Captured the Dutch vessel Hoop (40)
15.9.1665Began repairs at UnknownBWAS-1603
22.11.1665Completed repairsBWAS-1603
12.1665Sailed for TangierBWAS-1603
1666Refitted as a 58 gun Third Rate
1.6.1666Victualling at Portsmouth during the Four Days BattleBWAS-1603
25.7.1666St James Day Battle
17.2.1666/67Paid off into ordinaryBWAS-1603
1.1.1667/68RecommissionedBWAS-1603
1669Based in the Streights
1670Convoying Merchants
8.5.1671Battle of Bugia
9.1671Captain Daniel Helling was sent ashore to discuss a treaty with the Dey of AlgiersB051
28.5.1672Battle of Solebay
28.5.1673First Battle of Schooneveld
4.6.1673Second Battle of Schooneveld
11.8.1673Battle of Texel
1677Refitted as a 64 gun Third Rate
3.1677/78Sailed for the StreightsB051
1.4.1678Captured an Algerine warship of 40 guns in company with - Captain Arthur HurbertBWAS-1603
1.4.1678Took the Unrated BWAS-1603
1679GuardshipBWAS-1603

Fleets
Dates	Fleet	Fleet Commander	Source
1659-1659	British Baltic Fleet 1659	Edward MontaguBritish Naval Sailor Service 1656-1672

Notes on Ship

On November 18th 1652 the Council of State issued the following order "That the Commission lately granted to Captain Gilson to be commander of the Speaker frigate be withdrawn, and that he do pursue such directions concerning that ship as he hath received from General [Robert Blake|Blake]".

Captain [John Coppin] was awarded £100 as compensation for the leg he lost while commanding the Speaker at [Battle of Kentish Knock] (B047)

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Speaker -> 1660 Mary