British Third Rate ship of the line 'Prince of Wales' (1765)

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Prince of Wales

334
Nominal Guns74BWAS-1714
NationalityGreat Britain
OperatorRoyal Navy
Ordered16.12.1761BWAS-1714
Keel Laid Down3.1762BWAS-1714
Named18.4.1763BWAS-1714
Launched4.6.1765BWAS-1714
First Commissioned26.9.1770BWAS-1714
How acquiredPurpose builtBWAS-1714
ShipyardMilford Haven - Pembrokeshire BWAS-1714
Ship ClassRamillies Class (1760)BWAS-1714
Designed by
Sir Thomas SladeBritish
Designer
Ship Builder
Dockyard Staff
Service 1744-1783
BWAS-1714
Constructor
Henry BirdBritish
Designer
Ship Owner
Ship Builder
Service 1758-1759
BWAS-1714
CategoryThird RateBWAS-1714
Ship TypeShip of the LineBWAS-1714
Sailing RigShip RiggedBWAS-1714
Broken Up8.8.1783BWAS-1714

Dimensions


DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck168' 7"Imperial Feet51.209 
Length of Keel138' 2"Imperial Feet42.0637 
Breadth47' 0"Imperial Feet14.3256 
Depth in Hold19' 9 ¼"Imperial Feet5.7976 
Draught Forward13' 3"Imperial Feet3.9878 
Draught Aft17' 1"Imperial Feet5.1852 
Burthen1,623 43⁄94Tons BM 

Armament


4.6.1765Broadside 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
25.4.1760550Design Complement

3 Ship Commanders


DatesRankNameSource
26.9.1770 - 28.5.1771Captain
John HollwallBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1737-1771
ADM 6/20/294BWAS-171429.10.1776 - 27.1.1778Captain
The Hon. Samuel BarringtonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1740-1794
ADM 6/21/225BWAS-171428.1.1778 - 8.2.1780Captain
Benjamin HillBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1750-1783
Transfered ADM 6/21/358BWAS-1714

1 Flag Officer


DatesRankNameSource
28.1.1778 - 8.2.1780Rear-Admiral of the White
The Hon. Samuel BarringtonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1740-1794
BWAS-1714

Service History


DateEventSource
30.6.1765Sailed from builder for PortsmouthBWAS-1714
8.7.1765Arrived at PortsmouthBWAS-1714
4.10.1770Began completion at PortsmouthBWAS-1714
4.10.1770Began fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714
22.12.1770Completed at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth at a cost of £25261.6.1dBWAS-1714
22.12.1770Completed fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth at a cost of £3689.11.3dBWAS-1714
27.5.1771

paid off

ADM 33
1.1774Began middling repair at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth BWAS-1714
2.1775Completed middling repair at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth at a cost of £10838.16.10dBWAS-1714
19.5.1778Sailed for the Leeward IslandsBWAS-1714
14.12.1778Battle of St. Lucia
6.7.1779Battle of Grenada
29.2.1780

Paid off

ADM 34
8.8.1783Break up completed at Plymouth for £499.13.1dBWAS-1714

 
Previous comments on this page

Posted by Jon Miller on Friday 26th of June 2026 14:45

London, 17 June 1765: On the 4th inst, being his Majesty’s birth-day, about six in the evening was launched at Nayland, in Milford Haven, his Majesty’s ship the Prince of Wales, of 74 guns, built by Mr Roger Fisher of Liverpool. [Exeter Mercury, 21 June 1765]

Posted by Jon Miller on Wednesday 24th of June 2026 04:03

London, 27 May 1765: We hear that on the 3d of June next will be launched at Milford Haven his Majesty’s ship Prince of Wales, built by Mr Bird, of London, and Mr Fisher, of Liverpool; she is one of the largest 74 gun ships in the Navy. [Exeter Mercury, 31 May 1765]

Posted by Brian on Wednesday 10th of February 2016 01:27

Launch of The Prince of Wales 1765 - At Nayland, in Milford Haven,, his Majesty's ship the Prince of Wales, of 74 guns was launched. Ten thousand spectators covered the hills all around, which with several of hills with several of his Majesty's ships, a great number of sloops and other vessels, made a beautiful appearance. The ship is allowed by all who had the pleasure of viewing her, to be well constructed, strong and beautiful. The decoration and carved work are light, graceful and elegant. The head is a bust of his Royal Highness, supported on each side by Liberty and Wisdom, and appeared with all the dignity of a Prince of te Ancient Britons.

Posted by Brian Stephens on Sunday 4th of May 2014 16:31

The Gentleman's magazine. v.47 1777.
Admiralty Office: The Hon. Capt. Barrington, of his Majesty's ship Prince of Wales, has taken and sent into Plymouth the ship Lord Camden, of 350 tons, bound from Nantz to Philadelphia to which place she belongs, laden with salt and dry goods.

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