British Fourth Rate ship of the line 'Bristol' (1775)

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Bristol	625
Nominal Guns	50	BWAS-1714
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	12.10.1768	BWAS-1714
Keel Laid Down	5.1771	BWAS-1714
Launched	25.10.1775	BWAS-1714
First Commissioned	13.10.1775	BWAS-1714
How acquired	Purpose built	BWAS-1714
Shipyard	Sheerness Dockyard - Sheerness	BWAS-1714
Ship Class	Portland Class	BWAS-1714
Designed by	John Williams (1700-?)	BWAS-1714
Constructor	George White	BWAS-1714
Category	Fourth Rate	BWAS-1714
Ship Type	Ship of the Line	BWAS-1714
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	BWAS-1714
Broken Up	6.1810	BWAS-1714

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck146' 0"Imperial Feet44.5008
Length of Keel119' 9"Imperial Feet36.2832
Breadth40' 7"Imperial Feet12.3698
Depth in Hold17' 6"Imperial Feet5.2034
Draught Forward10' 6"Imperial Feet3.2004
Draught Aft15' 6 ½"Imperial Feet4.5847
Burthen1,049 ⁹⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

25.10.1775Broadside Weight = 414 Imperial Pound ( 187.749 kg)BWAS-1714
Lower Gun Deck22 British 24-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck22 British 12-Pounder
Quarterdeck4 British 6-Pounder
Forecastle2 British 6-Pounder

7.1779Broadside Weight = 486 Imperial Pound ( 220.401 kg)BWAS-1714
Lower Gun Deck22 British 24-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck22 British 12-Pounder
Quarterdeck2 British 24-Pound Carronade
Quarterdeck4 British 6-Pounder
Forecastle2 British 12-Pound Carronade
Forecastle2 British 6-Pounder
Roundhouse6 British 12-Pound Carronade

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
2.4.1766350Design Complement

16 Commanding Officers

DatesRankNameSource
13.10.1775 - 5.7.1776CaptainJohn Morris (d.1776)† ADM 6/21/126BWAS-17145.7.1776 - 6.7.1776CaptainJames Reid (c.1733-1798) ADM 6/21/290
Issued by Lord Richard Howe (4^th Viscount Howe) (1725/26-1799), North America
Commission confirmed 6.6.1777BWAS-17146.7.1776 - 6.9.1776CaptainTobias Caulfield (c.1739-1781) ADM 6/21/322
Issued by Lord Richard Howe (4^th Viscount Howe) (1725/26-1799), North America
Commission confirmed 7.10.1777BWAS-17146.9.1776 - 7.12.1777CaptainJohn Raynor (c.1730-1784) ADM 6/21/506
Issued by Lord Richard Howe (4^th Viscount Howe) (1725/26-1799), North America
Commission confirmed 1.2.1779PMD7.12.1777 - 25.12.1777CaptainThe Hon. William Cornwallis (1744-1819) ADM 6/21/417
Issued by Lord Richard Howe (4^th Viscount Howe) (1725/26-1799), North America
Commission confirmed 1.6.1778ADM 6/2125.12.1777 - 31.1.1781CaptainTobias Caulfield (c.1739-1781)†BWAS-171431.1.1781 - 24.9.1781CaptainJohn Thomas Duckworth (1748-1817) ADM 6/22/360
Issued by Sir Peter Parker (1715-1811), Jamaica - Greater Antilles
Commission confirmed 6.11.1781BWAS-171426.3.1782 - 18.6.1782CaptainJames Samber (c.1736-1816) ADM 6/22/435ADM 6/2218.6.1782 - 1784CaptainJames Burney ADM 6/22/482BWAS-17141784 - 1786LieutenantAugustus William Fitzroy (d.1786)†BWAS-17141786 - 26.7.1786CaptainCharles HughesBWAS-17141.1795 - 5.1797LieutenantJohn Samuel SillyBWAS-17145.1797 - 1798LieutenantFrancis McGie (d.1800)BWAS-17141800 - 1802LieutenantJoseph Withers (d.1802)†BWAS-17146.1806 - 1808LieutenantSir Joseph Coxwell (d.1832)BWAS-17141808 - 1810LieutenantRichard SimmonsBWAS-1714

2 Flag Officers

DatesRankNameSource
c.13.10.1775 - 28.4.1777CommodoreSir Peter Parker (1715-1811)BWAS-171428.4.1777 - 1779Rear-Admiral of the BlueSir Peter Parker (1715-1811)BWAS-1714

4 Commissioned Officers

DatesRankNameSource
11.7.1776 - 7.9.1776Acting LieutenantJames Saumarez (1757-1836)ODNB2.7.1778 - 3.9.1778Third LieutenantHoratio Nelson (1758-1805)NAO4.9.1778 - 20.12.1778First LieutenantHoratio Nelson (1758-1805)NAO21.12.1778 - 14.8.1780First LieutenantManley Dixon (1757-1838)ref:616

3 Petty Officers

DatesRatingNameSource
9.10.1775 - 11.7.1776MidshipmanJames Saumarez (1757-1836)ref:13591776 - 2.1777MidshipmanManley Dixon (1757-1838)ref:6161796Master's MateMichael Fitton (1765-1852)NBD1849

1 Crewman

DatesRatingNameSource
5.1796 - 17971st Class VolunteerPhilip Henry Bridges (d.1848)NBD1849

Service History

DateEventSource
25.10.1775building at Sheerness Dockyard - Sheerness at a cost of £23440.11.10dBWAS-1714
25.10.1775Began fitting at Sheerness Dockyard - Sheerness BWAS-1714
13.12.1775Completed fitting at Sheerness Dockyard - Sheerness at a cost of £3574.16.5dBWAS-1714
12.2.1776Sailed for North AmericaBWAS-1714
28.6.1776Attack on Sullivan IslandBWAS-1714
6.1777Returned homeBWAS-1714
8.7.1777Sailed for JamaicaBWAS-1714
20.3.17801st Action off Monti Christi
20.6.1780Action off Monti Christi
6.10.1780Dismasted in a hurricaneBWAS-1714
7.1781Arrived homeBWAS-1714
24.9.1781

Paid off

ADM 51
3.1782Began coppering at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth BWAS-1714
6.1782Completed coppering at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth at a cost of £13567.3.11dBWAS-1714
11.9.1782Sailed to the relief of Gibraltar and then to the East IndiesBWAS-1714
20.6.17832nd Battle of Cuddalore
7.1786Voyage homeBWAS-1714
26.7.1786Paid offADM 51
1787Church ship in the MedwayBWAS-1714
11.1794Began fitting at Chatham Dockyard - Chatham BWAS-1714
12.1794Completed fitting at Chatham Dockyard - Chatham BWAS-1714
1.1795Refitted as a Unrated Hospital Ship

Fleets
Dates	Fleet	Fleet Commander	Source
9.1782-12.1782	Fleet for the relief of Gibraltar 1782	Lord Richard Howe (4^th Viscount Howe) (1725/26-1799)

Sources

IDDescriptionAuthorType

BWAS-1714Rif WinfieldBook

PMD Book

ADM 6/21 Archive

ADM 6/22 Archive

ODNBOxford University PressWeb Site

NAOVariousWeb Site

ref:616Nicholas TracyBook

ref:1359Anthony SullivanBook

NBD1849O'BrienDigital Book

ADM 51 Archive

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