British Sixth Rate frigate 'Unicorn' (1748)

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Unicorn	7243
Nominal Guns	24	BWAS-1714
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	29.4.1747	BWAS-1714
Keel Laid Down	3.7.1747	BWAS-1714
Named	29.5.1747	BWAS-1714
Launched	7.12.1748	BWAS-1714
First Commissioned	21.3.1748/49	BWAS-1714
How acquired	Purpose built	BWAS-1714
Shipyard	Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth	BWAS-1714
Constructor	Benjamin SladeBritish Ship Builder Dockyard Staff Service 1733-1746	BWAS-1714
Category	Sixth Rate	BWAS-1714
Ship Type	Frigate	BWAS-1714
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	BWAS-1714
Broken Up	9.12.1771	BWAS-1714

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck117' 10"Imperial Feet35.6616
Length of Keel96' 5 ½"Imperial Feet29.2735
Breadth33' 8"Imperial Feet10.1261
Depth in Hold10' 2"Imperial Feet3.0988
Burthen581 ⁵⁰⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

3.1748/49Broadside Weight = 108 Imperial Pound ( 48.978 kg)BWAS-1714
Upper Gun Deck24 British 9-Pounder

22.9.1756Broadside Weight = 114 Imperial Pound ( 51.699 kg)BWAS-1714
Upper Gun Deck24 British 9-Pounder
Quarterdeck4 British 3-Pounder

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
29.4.1747160Design Complement
22.9.1756180 BWAS-1714
11.11.1756200 BWAS-1714

9 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
21.3.1748/49 - 22.6.1752Captain ADM 6/17/450BWAS-171410.1.1753 - 10.1.1756Captain Transfered ADM 6/18/52BWAS-17146.2.1756 - 24.9.1756Captain Transfered ADM 6/18/232BWAS-171424.9.1756 - 2.5.1757Captain† Discharged Dead ADM 6/18/311BWAS-171418.5.1757 - 21.11.1760Captain ADM 6/18/400BWAS-171421.11.1760 - 8.1.1761Captain†TRN319.5.1761 - 22.6.1763Captain ADM 6/19/316BWAS-171420.6.1765 - 10.1.1771Captain ADM 6/20/78ADM 6/2010.1.1771 - 15.11.1771Captain Transfered ADM 6/20/333ADM 6/20

1 Warrant Officer

DatesRankNameSource
25.9.1753 - 22.3.1754Purser ADM 107/5/126ADM 107/5

2 Petty Officers

DatesRatingNameSource
20.12.1752 - 8.1.1756Master's Mate ADM 107/4/351ADM 107/41.11.1755 - 3.12.1755Acting Lieutenant ADM 107/4/333ADM 107/4

1 Crewman

DatesRatingNameSource
14.8.1758 - 1758Trumpeter ADM 36/4801/39ADM 36

Service History

DateEventSource
7.12.1748building at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth at a cost of £9844.5.5dBWAS-1714
1.1749Began fitting at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth BWAS-1714
17.7.1749Completed fitting at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth BWAS-1714
1750In the MediterraneanBWAS-1714
1751In the MediterraneanBWAS-1714
22.6.1752

Paid off

BWAS-1714
10.1752Began repairs at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford BWAS-1714
1.1753RecommissionedBWAS-1714
2.1753Completed repairs at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford at a cost of £3542.15.6dBWAS-1714
4.1753Sailed for the MediterraneanBWAS-1714
30.8.1756Took the Privateer
22.9.1756Refitted as a 28 gun Sixth Rate Frigate
2.5.1757Unicorn vs Invincible
2.5.1757Took the Privateer BG
10.5.1757Took the Snow BG
2.11.1757Unicorn vs Hermione
2.11.1757Took the Frigate
23.11.1757Took the Demi-Batterie
21.9.1758Took the Snow off the Isle of BasBG
14.2.1759Took the Privateer BG
3.7.1759Bombardment of Le Havre
8.1.1761Unicorn vs Vestale
3.1761Expedition to Belle IsleBWAS-1714
7.3.1761Took the Privateer towards the LizardBG
29.3.1761Expedition against Belle-Isle
22.6.1763

Paid off

BWAS-1714
20.10.1763SurveyedBWAS-1714
19.3.1770SurveyedBWAS-1714
12.11.1771SurveyedBWAS-1714
9.12.1771Break up completed at SheernessBWAS-1714

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

ADM 107/4 Archive

ADM 107/5 Archive

ADM 36 Archive

ADM 6/20 Archive

BGOfficial, Web Site

BWAS-1714Rif Winfield, Book

TRN3William Laird Clowes, Digital Book

Previous comments on this page

Posted by Cy on Saturday 25th of April 2020 21:20

Michael Clements was First Lieutenant on those dates so is certainly possible

Posted by regis on Saturday 25th of April 2020 16:06

Lieutenant Clements , acting Commander ??? from the 02/05/1757 to the 15/05/1757

Posted by Tim Oakley on Saturday 21st of December 2019 12:39

According to Wikapedia Lieutenant John Symons took command on the death of Captain Joseph Hunt, 8/1/1761

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Recent comments to other pages

Date posted	By	Page
Friday 1st of July 2022 17:20	Prisco Hernandez	Adrian RenouBritish Naval Sailor Service 1772-1794
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