by Sam Willis
Jupiter (74)
Name in RN service Camperdown Taken by Monmouth and Russell Built and launched Amsterdam; launched April 1782 Size 1558 54/94 tons BOM Armament 28x32, 28x18, 12x12, 6x8 Armament in RN service LD 28x32, UD 28x18, QD 2 x18 + 10x32cr, FC 2x18 + 4x32cr Complement in the action 540 men under Vice-Admiral Harmanus Rentjes Complement in RN service 590 (73 as prison ship) ‘Nature of the prize’ Vice-Admiral Reyntres, Rear-Admiral Meures; 74 guns, 550 men Purchased for £17,264 16s 4d Bounty awarded £2,735 8s 9d Brought to Chatham, 10 January 1798 Fate Purchased, December 1797; prison ship at Chatham, 1798–1800; powder magazine there, 1802; sold to be broken up, 10 September 1817. Notes Van squadron (Vice-Admiral Reyntjes). Sources ADM 43/40; ADM 43/80; ADM 106/2223; London Gazette no. 14055 (16 October 1797); James; Gardiner, Fleet Battle and Blockade; Lyon; Winfield.
Monnikendam (44)
Taken by Powerful Built and launched 1782, Enkhuizen Armament 26x24, 26x18, 14x8 Complement 270 Complement in the action 254 men under Thomas Lancaster ‘Nature of the prize’ Captain Lancaster; 44 guns, 270 men Bounty awarded £1,286 13s 4d Fate Lost after the battle. Notes Van squadron (Vice-Admiral Reyntjes). Sources ADM 7/354; ADM 43/40; ADM 43/80; London Gazette no. 14055 (16 October 1797); James; Gardiner, Fleet Battle and Blockade; threedecks.org.
Vrijheid (74)
Dispatch folio 183 Name in RN service Vryheid Taken by Venerable, Triumph, Ardent, Director Built and launched 1782, Amsterdam Size 1562 tons BOM Armament 28x32, 28x18, 18x12 Armament in RN service LD 28x32, UD 28x18, QD 12x12, FC 4x12; as prison ship, none Complement in the action 538 men under Loderyk Willem Van Rossum Complement in RN service 590 (73 as prison ship) ‘Nature of the prize’ Admiral De Winter, Captain Van Rossem; 74 guns, 550 men Purchased for £10,780 19s 6d Bounty awarded £2,725 6s 1d Brought to Sheerness, October 1797, then Chatham, 8 January 1798 Fate Purchased, December 1797; prison ship (or possibly hospital ship for prisoners) at Chatham, February 1798; a powder magazine in the Medway, April 1802; sold at Chatham, 11 June 1811. Notes Centre squadron (Admiral De Winter). Flagship: surrendered only after all her masts had been shot away. Sources ADM 2/283; ADM 7/354; ADM 43/40; ADM 43/80; ADM 106/2223; London Gazette no. 14055 (16 October 1797); James; Gardiner, Fleet Battle and Blockade; Lyon; Winfield.
Wassenaar (64)
Name in RN Wassenar Taken by Triumph then Russell Built and launched 1781, Zwindrecht, Rotterdam Size 1269 48/94 tons BOM Armament 26x32, 26x18, 14x8 Armament in RN service LD 28x24 (none as troopship), UD 28x18, QD 8x9, FC 2x9 Complement in the action 446 men under Adolph Holland Complement in RN service 491 (250 as troopship) ‘Nature of the prize’ Captain Holland; 64 guns, 450 men Purchased for £14,393 8s 9d Bounty awarded £2,259 5s 4d Brought to Sheerness, 28 October 1797 Fate Purchased, December 1797; troopship, 1798; flagship of Admiral Peyton in the Downs, February to May 1798; in the Mediterranean, 1800–02; powder hulk at Chatham, 1802–15; sold there for breaking up, 13 August 1818. Notes Centre squadron (Admiral De Winter). Captured twice: she briefly rehoisted her colours after being fired on by a Dutch brig. Sources ADM 2/283; ADM 7/354; ADM 43/40; ADM 43/80; ADM 106/2223; London Gazette no. 14055 (16 October 1797); James; Gardiner, Fleet Battle and Blockade; Lyon; Winfield.
The Nile, 1–3 August 1798
Aquilon (74)
Dispatch folio 190 Name in dispatches L’Aquillon Name in RN service Aboukir Taken by Minotaur, Vanguard, Theseus Built and launched May or September 1787 to June 1790, Rochefort; launched 8 June 1789 Size 1537 / 1550 / 3069 tonnes; 1869 9/94 tons BOM Armament 28x36, 30x18, 16x8 + 6x36 obusiers (obusiers added in 1795) Complement 13–17 officers, 690/706 men Complement in the action 700 men under Henri-Alexander Thevenard ‘Nature of the prize’ 74 guns, 700 men Casualties 87 killed, 213 wounded Bounty awarded Bounty unknown; and £30,000 for the stores found in all the prizes Purchased for £22,428 0s 0d (the total for the six ships including ‘the fractional parts of a ton’ was £117,465 11s 5d) Brought to Plymouth Fate Purchased, March 1799; not fitted for sea; broken up at Plymouth, March 1802. Sources ADM 2/287; ADM 7/354; ADM 106/2224; ADM 106/2225; Naval Chronicle, 14 December 1798; London Gazette nos. 15065 (2 October 1798) and 15265 (7 June 1800); James; Demerliac; Roche; Winfield.
Artémise (28)
Dispatch folio 190 Name in dispatches L’Artemise Taken by Theseus Built and launched December 1791 to November 1794, Toulon; launched 25 September 1794 Size c. 600 / 600 / 1100 tonnes Armament (1797) 26x12, 10x6 + 4x36 obusiers Complement 10 officers, 268 men Complement in the action 250 men under Pierre-Jean Standelet ‘Nature of the prize’ 36 guns, 250 men; burnt. Casualties c. 40 killed and wounded Bounty awarded Bounty unknown; and £30,000 for the stores found in all the prizes Fate Burnt and abandoned by her crew then blew up. Sources ADM 7/354; London Gazette nos. 15065 (2 October 1798) and 15265 (7 June 1800); James; Demerliac; Roche.
Conquérant (74)
Dispatch folio 190 Name in dispatches Conquerant Name in RN service Conquerant Taken by Audacious Built and launched February 1745 to January 1747, Toulon, to a design by Coulomb; launched 9 or 10 March 1746; rebuilt January 1765 to December 1765 or January 1766, Brest, to a design by Ollivier; launched 29 November 1765 Size 1500 / 1500 / 3000 tonnes; 1681 9/94 tons BOM Armament 28x36, 30x18, 16x8 Complement 12–17 officers, 715 men Complement in the action 700 men under Etienne d’Albarade ‘Nature of the prize’ 74 guns, 700 men Casualties 125 killed, 85 wounded Bounty awarded Bounty unknown; and £30,000 for the stores found in all the prizes Purchased for £6,724 0s 0d (the total for the six ships including ‘the fractional parts of a ton’ was £117,465 11s 5d) Brought to Plymouth Fate Purchased, March 1799; not fitted for sea by the RN; laid up at Plymouth and broken up there, January 1803. Notes In 1798 she was France’s oldest surviving 74-gun ship; armament in 1798 was possibly 28x18, 30x12, 16x8. Roche has her in RN service as a hospital ship, Demerliac as a prison ship. Sources ADM 2/287; ADM 7/354; ADM 106/2224; ADM 106/2225; Naval Chronicle, 14 December 1798; London Gazette nos. 15065 (2 October 1798) and 15265 (7 June 1800); James; Demerliac; Roche; Winfield.
Franklin (80)
Dispatch folio 190 Name in RN service Canopus Taken by Defence and Swiftsure Built and launched c. November 1794 to March 1798, Toulon; launched 25 June 1797 Size 2000–2034 / 2000 / 3868 tonnes; 2258 77/94 tons BOM Armament 30x36, 32x24, 28x12 Armament in RN service LD 32x32, UD 32x18, QD 2x18 + 12x32cr, FC 2x9 + 4x32cr Complement 17 officers, 849 men Complement in the action 800 men under Maurice Gillet Complement in RN service 700 ‘Nature of the prize’ Blanquet, 1. Contre-amiral; 80 guns, 800 men Casualties 120 killed, 180 wounded Value awarded Bounty unknown; and £30,000 for the stores found in all the prizes Purchased for £31,108 0s 0d (the total for the six ships including ‘the fractional parts of a ton’ was £117,465 11s 5d) Brought to Plymouth Fate Purchased, March 1799; flagship of Admiral Affleck, 1798–99 then in Ordinary, August 1799; flagship of Rear-Admiral Campbell, April 1803, and joined Nelson’s fleet in August but as flagship of Rear-Admiral Louis missed Trafalgar; fought with Duckworth at San Domingo, 1806, and the Dardanelles, 1807; in Ordinary, February 1812; fitted for sea and repaired several times until in Ordinary, May 1848; fitted as receiving ship then tender then mooring hulk at Plymouth, 1862–69; sold there, October 1887. Notes Canopus is the old name for Aboukir. Her longevity may be attributed to her being built (like the Tonnant and Spartiate) of Adriatic oak. Sources ADM 2/287; ADM 7/354; ADM 106/2224; ADM 106/2225; Naval Chronicle, 14 December 1798; London Gazette nos. 15065 (2 October 1798) and 15265 (7 June 1800); James; Demerliac; Roche; Winfield.
Guerrier (74)
Dispatch folio 190 Taken by Zealous Built and launched 3 November 1750 to January 1754, Toulon; launched 9 September 1753 Size 1455 / 1500 / 1500 tonnes Armament 28x36, 30x18, 16x8 Complement 12–17 officers, 660/750 men Complement in the action 700 men under Jean-Francois-Timothee Trullet ‘Nature of the prize’ 74 guns, 600 men Casualties 130 killed, 90 wounded Bounty awarded Bounty unknown; £20,000 paid as compensation for the Guerrier, Heureux, and Mercure being destroyed;
and £30,000 for the stores found in all the prizes Fate Burnt by the British as too badly damaged to reach England, 18 August. Notes Fought at the northern end of the French line, attacked by Goliath; not to be confused with the Peuple Souverain, in the centre of the line, which was renamed Guerrier by the Royal Navy. Sources ADM 2/288; ADM 7/354; London Gazette nos. 15065 (2 October 1798) and 15265 (7 June 1800); James; Demerliac; Roche; Winfield.
Hercule (bomb)
Dispatch folio 190 Built and launched Requisitioned at Marseille and armed at Toulon in January 1798 Armament 6x6 + 1x12in mortar Complement 2 officers, 90 men under (forename unknown) Favre Bounty awarded Bounty not awarded. Fate Beached and burnt by the French on 15 August. Notes Not officially considered a prize by the Admiralty. Not to be confused with the Hercule (74), captured by the Mars, Ramillies and Jason in 1798. Sources Demerliac; Roche.
Heureux (74)
Dispatch folio 190 Taken by Goliath, Theseus, Alexander, Leander Built and launched May 1782 to April 1784, Toulon; launched 19 December 1782 Size 1530 / 1530 / 3010 tonnes Armament (from April 1794) 28x36, 30x18, 16x8 + 4x36 obusiers Complement 13–17 officers, 690/706 men Complement in the action 700 men under Jean-Pierre Etienne ‘Nature of the prize’ 74 guns, 700 men Casualties 100 killed, 150 wounded Bounty awarded Bounty unknown; £20,000 paid as compensation for the Guerrier, Heureux, and Mercure being destroyed; and £30,000 for the stores found in all the prizes Fate Burnt by the British as too badly damaged to reach England (16 August in James, 18 August in Nelson’s letter of 7 September 1798, 29 August in Demerliac). Sources ADM 2/288; ADM 7/354; London Gazette nos. 15065 (2 October 1798) and 15265 (7 June 1800); James; Nicolas; Demerliac; Roche.
Mercure (74)
Dispatch folio 190 Taken by Alexander Built and launched August 1782 to 1783, Toulon; launched 5 August 1783 Size 1550–1581 / 1550 / c. 3100 tonnes Armament (from February 1795) 28x36, 30x18, 16x8 + 4x36 obusiers + 4 perriers Complement 17 officers, 690 men Complement in the action 700 men under (forename unknown) Cambon ‘Nature of the prize’ 74 guns, 700 men Casualties 105 killed, 148 wounded Bounty awarded Bounty unknown; £20,000 paid as compensation for the Guerrier, Heureux, and Mercure being destroyed; and £30,000 for the stores found in all the prizes Fate Burnt by the British as too badly damaged to reach England (18 August in James and in Nelson’s letter of 7 September 1798, 30 August in Demerliac). Sources ADM 2/288; ADM 7/354; London Gazette nos. 15065 (2 October 1798) and 15265 (7 June 1800); James; Demerliac; Roche.
Orient (118)
Dispatch folio 190 Built and launched May 1790 to August 1793, Toulon; launched 20 July 1791 as the Dauphin Royal Size 2794–2930 / 5095 / 5140 tonnes Armament 34x36, 32x24, 34x18, 18x12 Complement 21 officers, 1109 men Complement in the action 1010 men under Luc-Julien-Joseph Casabianca ‘Nature of the prize’ Brueys, Commr. in Chief; 120 guns, 1010 men; burnt. Casualties c. 700 killed in the action and 100 in the explosion Bounty awarded Bounty unknown; and £30,000 for the stores found in all the prizes Fate Exploded during the battle. Notes Name changed in September 1792 to Sans Culotte and then in May 1795 to Orient. 70 survivors of the explosion were picked up by the British. Part of her mast was made into a coffin and presented to Nelson. Sources ADM 7/354; London Gazette nos. 15065 (2 October 1798) and 15265 (7 June 1800); James; Demerliac; Roche.
Peuple Souverain (74)
Dispatch folio 190 Name in dispatches Le Souverain Peuple Name in RN service Guerrier Taken by Defence and Orion Built and launched November 1755 to November 1757, Toulon; launched 6 June 1757 as Souverain Size c. 1536 / 1536 / 2800 tonnes; 1685 18/94 tons BOM Armament 28x36, 30x18, 19x8 + 4x36 obusiers (obusiers added February 1795) Complement 12–17 officers, 715 men Complement in the action 700 men under Pierre-Paul Raccord ‘Nature of the prize’ 74 guns, 700 men Casualties 96 killed, 125 wounded Bounty awarded Bounty unknown; and £30,000 for the stores found in all the prizes Purchased for £5,055 0s 0d (the total for the six ships including ‘the fractional parts of a ton’ was £117,465 11s 5d) Brought to Gibraltar, September 1798 Fate Too damaged to proceed further than Gibraltar so receiving ship there, January 1799; purchased, March 1799; served as flagship there, 1803–04; sheer hulk there, 1805; broken up there, August 1810. Notes Name changed in c. September 1792 to Peuple Souverain. The first to surrender, at about 9pm. Not to be confused with the Guerrier, at the northern end of the line. Sources ADM 2/287; ADM 7/354; ADM 106/2224; ADM 106/2225; Naval Chronicle, 14 December 1798; London Gazette nos. 15065 (2 October 1798) and 15265 (7 June 1800); James; Demerliac; Roche; Winfield.
Sérieuse (32)
Dispatch folio 190 Taken by Orion Built and launched March to November 1779, Toulon; launched 28 August 1779 Size 600 / 600 / 1100 tonnes Armament (from March 1794): 26x12, 6x6 + 4x36 obusiers Complement 9–10 officers, 255/275 men Complement in the action 250 men under Claude-Jean Martin ‘Nature of the prize’ 36 guns, 250 men; sunk. Casualties c. 60 killed and wounded Bounty awarded Bounty unknown; and £30,000 for the stores found in all the prizes Fate Dismasted and sunk after the battle by the British. Sources ADM 7/354; London Gazette nos. 15065 (2 October 1798) and 15265 (7 June 1800); James; Demerliac; Roche.
Spartiate (74)
Dispatch folio 190 Name in RN service Spartiate Taken by Vanguard and Audacious Built and launched c. November 1794 to March 1798, Toulon; launched 24 November 1797 Size 1537 / 1550 / 3069 tonnes; 1949 41/94 tons BOM Armament 28x36, 30x18, 16x8 + 4x36 obusiers Armament in RN service LD 28x32; UD 30x18; QD 2x18 + 14x32cr; FC 2x18 + 6x32cr Complement 16 officers, 690 men Complement in the action 700 men under Maxime (or Maurice) Julien Emeriau de Beauverger ‘Nature of the prize’ 74 guns, 700 men Casualties 64 killed, 150 wounded Bounty awarded Bounty unknown; and £30,000 for the stores found in all the prizes Purchased for £28,035 0s 0d (the total for the six ships including ‘the fractional parts of a ton’ was £117,465 11s 5d) Brought to Plymouth Fate Purchased, March 1799; fitted for sea at Plymouth, July 1801 to April 1803; fought in the weather column at Trafalgar, and served until December 1809; in Ordinary at Portsmouth to 1813, then Woolwich; repaired and served as the flagship on the South American station, 1823–25, then in the Mediterranean, the North Sea and South America; finally paid off, 1836; sheer hulk at Plymouth, August 1842; broken up there, 30 May 1857. Sources ADM 2/287; ADM 7/354; ADM 106/2224; ADM 106/2225; Naval Chronicle, 14 December 1798; London Gazette nos. 15065 (2 October 1798) and 15265 (7 June 1800); James; Demerliac; Roche; Winfield.
Timoleon (74)
Dispatch folio 190 Taken by Theseus and Leander Built and launched September 1784 to either 1786 or September 1787; launched 15 September 1785 as Vaisseau No. 1 Size 1537 / 1550 / 3069 tonnes Armament (from March 1794): 28x36, 30x18, 16x8 + 4x36 obusiers + 4 perriers Complement 13–17 officers, 690/706 men Complement in the action 700 men under Louis-Leonce Trullet ‘Nature of the prize’ 74 guns, 700 men Bounty awarded Bounty unknown; and £30,000 for the stores found in all the prizes Fate Beached by her crew to avoid capture; burnt on 3 August and exploded. Notes Name changed January 1786 to Commerce de Bordeaux, December 1793 to Bonnet Rouge, January 1784 to Timoleon. Sources ADM 7/354; London Gazette nos. 15065 (2 October 1798) and 15265 (7 June 1800); James; Demerliac; Roche; Winfield.
Tonnant (80)
Dispatch folio 190 Name in RN service Tonnant Taken by Theseus Built and launched November 1787 to September 1790, Toulon; launched 24 October 1789 Size 2000–2034 / 2000 / 3868 tonnes; 2281 3/94 tons BOM Armament 30x36, 32x24, 18x12 + 4x36 obusiers + 4 perriers Armament in RN service LD 32x32, UD 32x18, QD 2x18 + 14x32cr, FC 4x32cr Complement 13–17 officers, 839 men Complement in the action 800 men under Aristide Aubert Dupetit-Thouars Complement in RN service 700 ‘Nature of the prize’ 80 guns, 800 men Casualties 110 killed, 150 wounded Bounty awarded Bounty unknown; and £30,000 for the stores found in all the prizes Purchased for £24,090 0s 0d (the total for the six ships including ‘the fractional parts of a ton’ was £117,465 11s 5d) Brought to Plymouth Fate Purchased, March 1799; in service, January 1799; in Ordinary, July 1799; under
Pellew, March 1803, and in action with Calder’s squadron, September 1803; at Trafalgar; flagship of Rear-Admirals Harvey and de Courcy, 1806; alternating repairs and service 1809–14; flagship of Vice-Admiral Cochrane, North America, 1814, and Rear-Admiral Hallowell, Ireland, 1815; in Ordinary at Plymouth, 1818, then broken up there, March 1821. Notes Dismasted wreck but was the last to surrender (with 1,600 other survivors on board), on 3 August. Six vessels of the French navy have been named after Dupetit-Thouars. Sources ADM 2/287; ADM 7/354; ADM 106/2224; ADM 106/2225; Naval Chronicle, 14 December 1798; London Gazette nos. 15065 (2 October 1798) and 15265 (7 June 1800); James; Demerliac; Roche.
Copenhagen, 2 April 1801
Charlotte Amalia (26)
Dispatch folio 123 Built and launched 1765, place unknown Armament 26x24 Complement 228 Complement in the action 241 under Hans H. Koefoed Casualties 19 killed, 2 died of wounds, 18 wounded Bounty awarded £30,393 15s 0d for the whole fleet Fate Burnt after her crew abandoned her. Notes Blockship. Sources ADM 43/48; James; Pope; Tracy.
Cronborg (22)
Dispatch folio 123 Built and launched 1781, Nyholm Size 934 tons (Danish) Armament 22x24 Complement 201 Complement in the action 223 under Jens E. Hauch Casualties 18 killed, 2 died of wounds, 7 wounded Bounty awarded £30,393 15s 0d for the whole fleet Fate Burnt. Notes Frigate without masts. Sources ADM 43/48; James; Pope; Tracy.
Dannebroge (60)
Built and launched 1772, Nyholm Size 2020 tons (Danish) Armament 24x24, 24x12, 12x8 Complement 349 Complement in the action 357 under Ferdinand A. Braun Casualties 53 killed, 3 died of wounds, 48 wounded Bounty awarded £30,393 15s 0d for the whole fleet Fate Caught fire during the action and exploded. Notes Blockship, served as Fischer’s flagship. Sources ADM 43/48; Pope.