British Third Rate ship of the line 'Fortitude' (1780)

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Fortitude

373
Nominal Guns74BWAS-1714
NationalityGreat Britain
OperatorRoyal Navy
Ordered2.2.1778BWAS-1714
Keel Laid Down4.3.1778BWAS-1714
Launched22.3.1780BWAS-1714
How acquiredPurpose builtBWAS-1714
ShipyardRotherhithe - London - Surrey BWAS-1714
Ship ClassAlbion Class - ModifiedBWAS-1714
Constructor John Randall (1755-1802)BWAS-1714
CategoryThird RateBWAS-1714
Ship TypeShip of the Line BWAS-1714
Sailing RigShip RiggedBWAS-1714
Broken Up3.1820BWAS-1714

Dimensions


DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck168' 6"Imperial Feet51.2086 
Length of Keel138' 6 ⅜"Imperial Feet42.0719 
Breadth47' 3"Imperial Feet14.3365 
Depth in Hold18' 9 ½"Imperial Feet5.4991 
Burthen1,645 10⁄94Tons BM 

Armament


1780Broadside Weight = 781 Imperial Pound ( 354.1835 kg)BWAS-1714
Lower Gun Deck28 British 32-Pounder
Lower Gun Deck28 British 18-Pounder
Quarterdeck14 British 9-Pounder
Forecastle4 British 9-Pounder

Crew Complement


Date# of MenNotesSource
1777600Design Complement

9 Commanding Officers


DatesRankNameSource
13.3.1780 - 9.11.1781CaptainSir Richard Bickerton (1st Baronet Bickerton of Upwood) (1727-1792) ADM 6/22/97ODNB25.8.1781 - 4.1.1782CaptainThe Hon. Charles Phipps (1753-1786) ADM 6/22/330ADM 6/2218.1.1782 - 4.12.1782Captain George Keppel ADM 6/22/401BWAS-17144.12.1782 - 9.4.1783CaptainThe Hon. Peregrine Bertie (1740/41-1790) ADM 6/22/550BWAS-17146.10.1787 - 11.12.1787Captain Anthony James Pye Molloy (d.1815) ADM 6/23/425BWAS-171431.1.1793 - 1.6.1795Captain William Young (1751-1821) ADM 6/24/199BWAS-17931795 - 11.1795Captain Thomas TaylorBWAS-179311.1795 - 16.11.1795Acting Captain Thomas BoysBWAS-17146.1798 - 1798Lieutenant John GourleyBWAS-1714

2 Flag Officers


DatesRankNameSource
6.1781 - 5.1782Vice-Admiral of the Blue Hyde Parker (1713/14-1783)BWAS-17146.1782 - 9.4.1783Vice-Admiral of the Blue Mark Milbanke (1724-1805)BWAS-1714

1 Commissioned Officer


DatesRankNameSource
1781 - 5.8.1781Lieutenant James Saumarez (1757-1836)ODNB

3 Petty Officers


DatesRatingNameSource
4.1782 - 9.1782Midshipman Michael Fitton (1765-1852)NBD18491795Midshipman George GlanvillADM 171/81795Quartermaster John WhiteADM 171/8

1 Crewman


DatesRatingNameSource
7.1800 - 8.18011st Class Volunteer Henry KentNBD1849

Service History


DateEventSource
3.4.1780Completed at Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich at a cost of £44405.10.4dBWAS-1714
13.3.1781Sailed for the Relief of GibraltarBWAS-1714
12.4.1781Arrived off GibraltarBWAS-1714
5.8.1781Battle of Dogger Bank
1.1782Began refitting at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth BWAS-1714
2.1782Completed refitting at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth at a cost of £8027.1.9dBWAS-1714
20.10.1782Battle of Cape Spartel
4.1783refitting at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth BWAS-1714
9.4.1783

Paid off

BWAS-1714
3.1784Began small repair at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth BWAS-1714
7.1784Completed small repair at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth at a cost of £10261.10.7dBWAS-1714
10.1787RecommissionedBWAS-1714
11.12.1787

Paid off

BWAS-1714
10.1790Began small repair at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth BWAS-1714
5.1791Completed small repair at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth at a cost of £8523.2.10dBWAS-1714
1.1793RecommissionedBWAS-1714
8.1.1793Attack on Mortella TownBWAS-1714
11.5.1793Sailed for the MediterraneanBWAS-1714
14.3.1795Action off Genoa
13.7.1795Battle of Hyeres
10.1795Refitted as a Prison Ship
7.10.1795Action of 1795-10-07
16.11.1795

Paid off

BWAS-1714
5.1802Refitted as a Powder Hulk


Fleets

DatesFleetFleet CommanderSource
9.1782-12.1782Fleet for the relief of Gibraltar 1782Lord Richard Howe (4th Viscount Howe) (1725/26-1799) 
 
Previous comments on this page

Posted by Cy on Wednesday 18th of March 2020 22:14

I believe the commander of the Princess Augusta in 1781, was Richard Hussey Bickerton, Richard Bickerton's son. But am willing to be persuaded otherwise, as I only have a letter in ADM 106 to go on?
You are probably correct on the captain though.

Posted by Tim Oakley on Wednesday 18th of March 2020 19:03

I have, Acting Captain George Robertson commanded the flagship Fortitude 74 at the Battle of the Doggersbank in 1781 and made post 15 Aug 1781, Sir Richard Bickerton having taken command of the Royal yacht Princess Augusta in June 1781?

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