British Third Rate ship of the line 'Grafton' (1771)

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Grafton

350
Nominal Guns74BWAS-1714
NationalityGreat Britain
OperatorRoyal Navy
Ordered22.10.1767BWAS-1714
Keel Laid Down1.7.1768BWAS-1714
Launched26.9.1771BWAS-1714
First Commissioned2.10.1777BWAS-1714
How acquiredPurpose builtBWAS-1714
ShipyardDeptford Dockyard - Deptford BWAS-1714
Ship ClassAlbion Class - Modified (1767)BWAS-1714
Constructor
Adam HayesBritish
Designer
Ship Builder
Dockyard Staff
Service 1748-1785
BWAS-1714
CategoryThird RateBWAS-1714
Ship TypeShip of the LineBWAS-1714
Sailing RigShip RiggedBWAS-1714
Broken Up5.1816BWAS-1714

Dimensions


DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck168' 0"Imperial Feet51.2064 
Length of Keel139' 1 ¼"Imperial Feet42.3736 
Breadth47' 3"Imperial Feet14.3365 
Depth in Hold18' 10"Imperial Feet5.4864 
Draught Forward11' 7"Imperial Feet3.5306 
Draught Aft16' 2"Imperial Feet4.8853 
Burthen1,651 85⁄94Tons BM 

Armament


26.9.1771Broadside 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
24.4.1760550Design Complement

8 Ship Commanders


DatesRankNameSource
2.10.1777 - 14.7.1779Captain
Andrew WilkinsonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1747-1779
ADM 6/21/319BWAS-171414.7.1779 - 30.7.1779Captain
Thomas CollingwoodBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1750-1779
ADM 6/22/199
Issued by
John ByronBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1746-1780
, North America
Confirmed 21.11.1780BWAS-171430.7.1779 - 5.6.1780Captain
Thomas NewnhamBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1760-1794
ADM 6/22/87
Issued by
John ByronBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1746-1780
, North America
Confirmed 10.2.1780BWAS-17145.6.1780 - 31.12.1780Captain
William AffleckBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1761-1792
Transfered ADM 6/22/338
Issued by
Sir George Brydges Rodney (Baronet )British
Naval Sailor
Service 1740-1782
, Barbados - Windward Islands - Barbados & the Leeward Islands
Confirmed 13.9.1781BWAS-17141.1.1781 - 10.9.1781Captain
William GarnerBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1748-1781
ADM 6/22/380
Issued by
Sir Peter ParkerBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1743-1799
, Jamaica - Greater Antilles
Confirmed 6.12.1781BWAS-171419.9.1782 - 20.11.1782Captain
Frederick Lewis MaitlandBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1748-1785
Transfered ADM 6/22/518ADM 6/222.11.1782 - 30.12.1782Captain
Stair DouglasBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1749-1783
Transfered ADM 6/22/536ADM 6/2227.12.1782 - 4.4.1783Captain
Sir John Hamilton (1st Baronet of Trebinshun House)British
Naval Sailor
Service 1740-1785
ADM 6/22/563BWAS-1714

1 Flag Officer


DatesRankNameSource
30.7.1779 - 2.6.1780Commodore
Thomas CollingwoodBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1750-1779
†BWAS-1714

6 Commissioned Officers


DatesRankNameSource
2.10.1777 - 10.10.1777Fifth Lieutenant
George RiceBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1777-1794
ADM 6/21/319ADM 6/2110.10.1777 - 10.9.1781Fourth Lieutenant
George RiceBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1777-1794
ADM 6/21/324ADM 6/2114.10.1777 - 6.12.1777First Lieutenant
William BlairBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1754-1781
ADM 6/21/324ODNB5.12.1782 - 30.12.1782Fourth Lieutenant
Stair DouglasBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1780-1810
ADM 6/22/550ADM 6/2230.12.1782 - 7.1.1783Third Lieutenant
Stair DouglasBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1780-1810
Transfered ADM 6/22/567ADM 6/2222.11.1790 - 27.4.1791First Lieutenant
Charles Burton NewenhamBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1790-1793
Transfered ADM 6/24/89ADM 6/24

2 Warrant Officers


DatesRankNameSource
24.7.1780 - 10.9.1781Master
Richard BurlaceBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1774-1781
ADM 29-120.10.1782 - 4.4.1783Master
John RussellBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1782-1798
ADM 29-1

1 Petty Officer


DatesRatingNameSource
1781 - 1.1782Midshipman
Charles DashwoodBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1779-1815
E-WIKI

1 Crewman


DatesRatingNameSource
27.11.1783 - 31.12.1783Able Seaman
Richard ColleyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1780-1821
ADM 29/8

Service History


DateEventSource
22.12.1771Completed at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford at a cost of £35494.18.8dBWAS-1714
2.1778fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth at a cost of £8564.11.10dBWAS-1714
9.6.1778Sailed for North AmericaBWAS-1714
6.7.1779Battle of Grenada
13.12.1779Sailed to the West IndiesBWAS-1714
17.4.1780Battle of Martinique
15.5.1780Action of March 15 1780
19.5.1780Action of March 19 1780
1781At JamaicaBWAS-1714
7.1781Arrived homeBWAS-1714
10.9.1781

Paid off

BWAS-1714
7.1782Began coppering and fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714
12.1782Completed coppering and fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth at a cost of £19180.18.6dBWAS-1714
18.1.1783Sailed for the East Indies, but returned disabledBWAS-1714
4.4.1783

Paid off

BWAS-1714
1.1792Began fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714
3.1792Completed fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714
5.1816Broken up at PortsmouthBWAS-1714

 
Previous comments on this page

Posted by Jon Miller on Monday 22nd of June 2026 09:28

Sheerness, 3 February 1772: The Grafton, of 74 guns; and the Monarch and Magnificent, of 70 guns each, are just got under way for the Nore: they are going round to Portsmouth under the command of Capt Collier in the Flora. Every body here wonders at the Admiralty’s sending round three such fine new ships at this dangerous season of the year, and through a very hazardous passage of sands, shoals, and rocks. [Canterbury Journal, 11 February 1772]

Posted by Brian on Tuesday 9th of February 2016 14:02

Gentleman's Magazine September 26, 1771 - The Grafton man of war, pierced for 70 guns, was launched at Deptford, about 3 o'clock, Their Majesties came into the dockyard exactly a quarter before three, when the colours on board the yachts and other ships in the river were immediately hoisted, and made a most beautiful appearance, and the ships gave a general salute. His Majesty went on board attended by several persons of distinction, when a band of music struck up and played " God save great George our King"

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