British Third Rate ship of the line 'Grafton' (1771)

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Grafton	350
Nominal Guns	74	BWAS-1714
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	22.10.1767	BWAS-1714
Keel Laid Down	1.7.1768	BWAS-1714
Launched	26.9.1771	BWAS-1714
First Commissioned	2.10.1777	BWAS-1714
How acquired	Purpose built	BWAS-1714
Shipyard	Deptford Dockyard - Deptford	BWAS-1714
Ship Class	Albion Class - Modified	BWAS-1714
Constructor	Adam Hayes (d.1785)	BWAS-1714
Category	Third Rate	BWAS-1714
Ship Type	Ship of the Line	BWAS-1714
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	BWAS-1714
Broken Up	5.1816	BWAS-1714

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck168' 0"Imperial Feet51.2064
Length of Keel139' 1 ¼"Imperial Feet42.3736
Breadth47' 3"Imperial Feet14.3365
Depth in Hold18' 10"Imperial Feet5.4864
Draught Forward11' 7"Imperial Feet3.5306
Draught Aft16' 2"Imperial Feet4.8853
Burthen1,651 ⁸⁵⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

26.9.1771Broadside Weight = 781 Imperial Pound ( 354.1835 kg)BWAS-1714
Lower Gun Deck28 British 32-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck28 British 18-Pounder
Quarterdeck14 British 9-Pounder
Forecastle4 British 9-Pounder

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
24.4.1760550Design Complement

8 Commanding Officers

DatesRankNameSource
2.10.1777 - 14.7.1779CaptainAndrew Wilkinson (d.1787) ADM 6/21/319BWAS-171414.7.1779 - 30.7.1779CaptainThomas Collingwood (d.1780) ADM 6/22/199
Issued by John Byron (1723-1786), North America
Commission confirmed 21.11.1780BWAS-171430.7.1779 - 5.6.1780CaptainThomas Newnham (d.1795) ADM 6/22/87
Issued by John Byron (1723-1786), North America
Commission confirmed 10.2.1780BWAS-17145.6.1780 - 31.12.1780CaptainWilliam Affleck (1740-1791) ADM 6/22/338
Issued by Sir George Brydges Rodney (Baronet ) (1719-1792), Barbados - Windward Islands - Barbados & the Leeward Islands
Commission confirmed 13.9.1781BWAS-17141.1.1781 - 10.9.1781CaptainWilliam Garner (d.1787) ADM 6/22/380
Issued by Sir Peter Parker (1715-1811), Jamaica - Greater Antilles
Commission confirmed 6.12.1781BWAS-171419.9.1782 - 20.11.1782CaptainFrederick Lewis Maitland (1729/30-1786) ADM 6/22/518ADM 6/222.11.1782 - 30.12.1782CaptainStair Douglas (c.1735-1789) ADM 6/22/536ADM 6/2227.12.1782 - 4.4.1783CaptainSir John Hamilton (1^st Baronet of Trebinshun House) (1726-1784) ADM 6/22/563BWAS-1714

1 Flag Officer

DatesRankNameSource
30.7.1779 - 2.6.1780CommodoreThomas Collingwood (d.1780)†BWAS-1714

1 Commissioned Officer

DatesRankNameSource
14.10.1777 - 6.12.1777First LieutenantWilliam Blair (1741-1782) ADM 6/21/324ODNB

2 Warrant Officers

DatesRatingNameSource
24.7.1780 - 10.9.1781MasterRichard BurlaceADM29-120.10.1782 - 4.4.1783MasterJohn RussellADM29-1

1 Petty Officer

DatesRatingNameSource
1781 - 1.1782MidshipmanCharles Dashwood (1765-1847)EWIKI

Service History

DateEventSource
22.12.1771Completed at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford at a cost of £35494.18.8dBWAS-1714
2.1778fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth at a cost of £8564.11.10dBWAS-1714
9.6.1778Sailed for North AmericaBWAS-1714
6.7.1779Battle of Grenada
13.12.1779Sailed to the West IndiesBWAS-1714
17.4.1780Battle of Martinique
15.5.1780Action of March 15 1780
19.5.1780Action of March 19 1780
1781At JamaicaBWAS-1714
7.1781Arrived homeBWAS-1714
10.9.1781

Paid off

BWAS-1714
7.1782Began coppering and fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714
12.1782Completed coppering and fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth at a cost of £19180.18.6dBWAS-1714
18.1.1783Sailed for the East Indies, but returned disabledBWAS-1714
4.4.1783

Paid off

BWAS-1714
1.1792Began fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714
3.1792Completed fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714
5.1816Broken up at PortsmouthBWAS-1714

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

BWAS-1714Rif Winfield, Book

ADM 6/22 Archive

ODNBOxford University Press, Web Site

ADM29-1 Document

EWIKIVarious, Web Site

Previous comments on this page

Posted by Brian on Tuesday 9th of February 2016 14:02

Gentleman's Magazine September 26, 1771 - The Grafton man of war, pierced for 70 guns, was launched at Deptford, about 3 o'clock, Their Majesties came into the dockyard exactly a quarter before three, when the colours on board the yachts and other ships in the river were immediately hoisted, and made a most beautiful appearance, and the ships gave a general salute. His Majesty went on board attended by several persons of distinction, when a band of music struck up and played " God save great George our King"

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