British First Rate ship of the line 'Royal Sovereign' (1786)

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Royal Sovereign -> 1825 Captain	18
Nominal Guns	100	BWAS-1714
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	3.2.1772	BWAS-1714
Keel Laid Down	7.1.1774	BWAS-1714
Launched	11.9.1786	BWAS-1714
How acquired	Purpose built	BWAS-1714
Shipyard	Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth	BWAS-1714
Designed by	John WilliamsBritish Designer Ship Builder Service 1762-1778	BWAS-1714
Constructor	Thomas PollardBritish Ship Builder Dockyard Staff Service 1765-1799	BWAS-1714
Category	First Rate	BWAS-1714
Ship Type	Ship of the Line	BWAS-1714
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	BWAS-1714
Broken Up	8.1841	BWAS-1714

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck183' 10 ½"Imperial Feet55.7911
Length of Keel150' 9 ⅛"Imperial Feet45.7232
Breadth52' 1"Imperial Feet15.8623
Depth in Hold22' 2 ½"Imperial Feet6.7183
Draught Forward13' 3"Imperial Feet3.9878
Draught Aft18' 8"Imperial Feet5.5118
Burthen2,175 ²⁹⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

1786Broadside Weight = 1188 Imperial Pound ( 538.758 kg)BWAS-1714
Lower Gun Deck28 British 42-Pounder
Middle Gun Deck28 British 24-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck30 British 12-Pounder
Quarterdeck10 British 12-Pounder
Forecastle4 British 12-Pounder

1793Broadside Weight = 1048 Imperial Pound ( 475.268 kg)BWAS-1714
Lower Gun Deck28 British 32-Pounder
Middle Gun Deck28 British 24-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck30 British 12-Pounder
Quarterdeck10 British 12-Pounder
Forecastle4 British 12-Pounder

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
1786850EstablishmentBWAS-1714

33 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
1.10.1787 - 10.12.1787Captain ADM 6/22/421ADM 6/2222.5.1790 - 28.8.1790Acting CaptainBWAS-171428.8.1790 - 21.9.1790Captain ADM 6/24/63ADM 6/2421.9.1790 - 1.10.1790CaptainBWAS-17141.10.1790 - 4.12.1790Captain ADM 6/24/72BWAS-171427.2.1793 - 1795Captain ADM 6/24/214BWAS-17143.1795 - 1796CaptainBWAS-17146.1796 - 3.1797CaptainBWAS-17143.1797Acting CaptainBWAS-17143.1797 - 9.1800CaptainBWAS-17141800 - 1801CaptainBWAS-17141.1801 - 4.1802CaptainBWAS-17144.1803 - 1.1804CaptainBWAS-17141.1804 - 3.1804CaptainBWAS-17143.1804 - 5.1805CaptainBWAS-171414.9.1805 - 10.10.1805CaptainBWAS-171411.10.1805 - 26.1.1806CaptainBWAS-171411.1805 - 1806CaptainBWAS-171411.1806 - 8.1808CaptainBWAS-17148.1808 - 11.1809CaptainBWAS-171411.1809 - 2.1810CaptainBWAS-171426.11.1809 - 19.2.1810Acting CaptainNAO2.1810 - 7.1810CaptainBWAS-17147.1810 - 8.1811CaptainBWAS-17148.1811 - 12.1811CaptainBWAS-171412.1811CaptainBWAS-171412.1811 - 10.1812CaptainBWAS-171410.1812 - 12.1813CaptainBWAS-171412.1813 - 3.1814CaptainBWAS-17143.1814 - 5.1814CaptainBWAS-17145.1814 - 8.1814CaptainBWAS-17144.1815 - 6.1815CaptainBWAS-171431.5.1815 - 30.8.1815CaptainBWAS-1714

12 Flag Officers

DatesRankNameSource
9.1790 - 11.1790Vice-Admiral of the Blue ADM 107/3/53BWAS-17142.1793 - 1794Vice-Admiral of the Red ADM 107/3/474BWAS-171412.1794 - 7.1795Admiral of the BlueBWAS-17146.1796 - 3.1797Vice-AdmiralBWAS-17141800 - 1802Vice-Admiral of the WhiteODNB1.1801 - 4.1802Vice-AdmiralBWAS-171426.3.1804 - 17.6.1805Rear-Admiral of the WhiteBWAS-171411.10.1805 - 21.10.1805Vice-Admiral of the BlueBWAS-171411.1806 - 11.1809Vice-AdmiralBWAS-17144.1812 - 1813AdmiralBWAS-17141.1814 - 8.1814Vice-AdmiralBWAS-17144.1815 - 7.1815Rear-AdmiralBWAS-1714

29 Commissioned Officers

DatesRankNameSource
30.8.1790 - 21.9.1790First Lieutenant ADM 6/24/63ADM 6/2430.8.1790 - 30.9.1790Fourth Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/24/63ADM 6/2430.8.1790 - 30.9.1790Fifth Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/24/63ADM 6/2430.8.1790 - 30.9.1790Seventh Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/24/63ADM 6/241.10.1790 - 21.12.1790First Lieutenant ADM 6/24/72ADM 6/241.10.1790 - 1790Second Lieutenant ADM 6/24/72ADM 6/241.10.1790 - 1790Third Lieutenant ADM 6/24/72ADM 6/241.10.1790 - 1790Fourth Lieutenant ADM 6/24/72ADM 6/241.10.1790 - 22.12.1790Fifth Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/24/72ADM 6/241.10.1790 - 6.1.1791Sixth Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/24/72ADM 6/241.10.1790 - 1790Seventh Lieutenant ADM 6/24/72ADM 6/2427.2.1793 - 10.3.1795LieutenantNBD18495.7.1803 - 15.3.1804LieutenantNBD18491804 - 1805LieutenantNBD18499.1804 - 21.8.1805Lieutenantref:6161805 - 11.11.1805LieutenantNBD184917.6.1805 - 1806LieutenantNAO4.7.1805 - 14.8.1805LieutenantNBD184916.8.1805 - 1806LieutenantNAO10.9.1805 - 1806LieutenantNAO15.9.1805 - 24.12.1805LieutenantNAO11.10.1805 - 21.10.1805Lieutenant†NAO11.10.1805 - 4.11.1805LieutenantNAO22.10.1805 - 22.12.1805Acting LieutenantNBD184922.12.1805 - 19.4.1806LieutenantNBD18493.2.1811 - 5.8.1812LieutenantNBD184920.2.1813 - 3.1.1814Lieutenant Discharged ADM 196/5/3ADM 1962.4.1814 - 16.5.1814LieutenantNBD18494.1815 - 7.1815LieutenantNBD1849

5 Warrant Officers

DatesRankNameSource
1780 - 22.2.1780Boatswain Transfered ADM 6/22/92ADM 6/2227.4.1793 - 18.11.1796BoatswainADM 29/81794 - 1.6.1794Surgeonref:16651805 - 21.10.1805Master† Discharged DeadTRN519.2.1811 - 31.12.1811GunnerNAO

18 Petty Officers

DatesRatingNameSource
18.5.1791 - 24.9.1791Midshipmanref:6161793 - 21.9.1795Midshipmanref:6161794MidshipmanADM 171/81797 - 4.1802MidshipmanNBD184910.1800 - 26.4.1802Master's MateNBD184913.4.1803 - 21.10.1805Midshipman†NAO8.1803 - 3.1804MidshipmanNBD184910.1804 - 1805MidshipmanNBD18494.1805 - 3.1806MidshipmanNBD184911.10.1805 - 23.11.1805MidshipmanNBD184911.1805 - 1806MidshipmanNBD184911.1806 - 8.1808MidshipmanNBD18495.1807 - 11.1809MidshipmanNBD18491814 - 28.4.1814MidshipmanNBD18491.1814 - 3.1814MidshipmanNBD18495.1814 - 8.1814MidshipmanNBD18491815Master's MateNBD18494.1815 - 8.1815Master's MateNBD1849

26 Crewmen

DatesRatingNameSource
1794Able SeamanADM 171/81794Able SeamanADM 171/81794Able SeamanADM 171/81794Able SeamanADM 171/81794Able SeamanADM 171/81794Ordinary SeamanADM 171/81794Ordinary SeamanADM 171/81794 - 1795Ordinary SeamanADM 171/81794LandmanADM 171/81794LandmanADM 171/81794LandmanADM 171/81794LandmanADM 171/81794LandmanADM 171/81794LandmanADM 171/81794LandmanADM 171/81794Admiral's ServantADM 171/81794Captain's ServantADM 171/81794Captain's ServantADM 171/81794Lieutenant's ServantADM 171/81794Gunner's ServantADM 171/81795Ordinary SeamanADM 171/81795Ordinary SeamanADM 171/81795Master's ServantADM 171/83.1796 - 17971st Class VolunteerNBD184914.7.1803 - 8.18031st Class VolunteerNBD184918051st Class VolunteerNAO

4 Marines

DatesRankNameSource
1794DrummerADM 171/81794DrummerADM 171/81794PrivateADM 171/81794PrivateADM 171/8

Service History

DateEventSource
9.1787Completed and "Partly fitted for sea" at a cost of £61,254.14.7d for the hull, £6,203.14.9d for rigging and stores and £6,760.7.2d for fittingBWAS-1714
10.1787CommissionedBWAS-1714
10.12.1787

Paid off

BWAS-1714
5.1790Started fitting at PlymouthBWAS-1714
5.1790Recommissioned for the Spanish ArmamentBWAS-1714
8.1790Completed fitting at a cost of £7,311.18.2dBWAS-1714
24.8.1790Sailed from PlymouthBWAS-1714
2.1793RecommissionedBWAS-1714
6.1794Started refitting at PlymouthBWAS-1714
1.6.1794Glorious 1st of June
16.6.1795First Battle of Groix
2.1799Started refitting at PortsmouthBWAS-1714
4.1799Completed refitting at a cost of £11,556BWAS-1714
5.5.1799

Arrived at Cawsand Bay, Plymouth

TNC
1.6.1799Sailed for the MediterraneanBWAS-1714
2.1804Sailed for the MediterraneanBWAS-1714
3.1804Off ToulonBWAS-1714
5.1805Escort to General Craig's expedition to the Mediterranean
21.10.1805Battle of Trafalgar
5.1806Started a repair and refit at PlymouthBWAS-1714
11.1806RecommissionedBWAS-1714
1.1807Completed repair and refit at a cost of £63,500BWAS-1714
22.1.1814Sailed from Plymouth for the MediterraneanBWAS-1714
5.1814Still in the Mediterranean
18.8.1814

Paid off

BWAS-1714
28.8.1815Paid offADM 51
17.5.1825Renamed CaptainBWAS-1714
6.1825Started fitting as a receiving ship at PlymouthBWAS-1714
8.1825Completed fittingBWAS-1714
8.1841Break up completed at Plymouth for £763. The value of stores and materials saved was £5,996BWAS-1714

Notes on Ship

Description of the launchTIMES
"... Monday, September 11. The wind this morning veered round from the W to the N and from the appearance of the weather promised a very fine day. At twelve o'clock at noon it was determined by the Builder and Master Attendant, that the Royal Sovereign should be launched in the evening. Preparations were made for the purpose; the usual colours were hoisted on board her as a signal for launching. At seven o'clock the last shores were cut away, and she went off the stocks into her proper element with a grandeur undescribable. The launch being very long, the appearance of her moving slowly into the sea was beautifully majestic. Conceive to yourself near 50,000 spectators at the moment this noble ship began to move, all eagerly looking at once object, struck with awe at so magnificent a sight, a dazed silence reigned among them, not even a whisper could be heard for the space of six or seven moments."

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

BWAS-1714Rif Winfield, Book

ADM 6/22 Archive

ADM 6/24 Archive

NAOVarious, Web Site

ODNBOxford University Press, Web Site

NBD1849O'Brien, Digital Book

ref:616Nicholas Tracy, Book

ADM 196 Document

ADM 29/8 Archive

ref:1665Thomas Trotter, Book

TRN5William Laid Clowes, Digital Book

ref: Book

ADM 171/8British Admiralty, Document

TNCVarious, Periodical

ADM 51 Archive

TIMES Document

Previous comments on this page

Posted by Cy on Sunday 22nd of August 2021 08:16

Similar layout, but the designs were significantly different. The Victory was approximatetly 9' shorter, 2' narrower and 250 tons BM smaller for a start.

Posted by Michael Scott on Sunday 22nd of August 2021 05:13

Hi, excellent and informative page. Can I ask HMS Victory and Royal Sovereign if their design and layout were similar, exact or not at all? Very interested.

Thanks, Michael

Posted by Tim Oakley on Friday 15th of November 2019 00:51

1 March 1796 Royal Sovereign100 Captain John Whitby, Vice-Admiral Red William Cornwallis sailed for the Leeward Islands
15 March 1796 Royal Sovereign100 Captain John Whitby, Vice-Admiral Red William Cornwallis returned to port after a collision with a transport which sank with the loss of one hundred and forty two men

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