British Third Rate ship of the line 'Majestic' (1785)

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Majestic

5232
Nominal Guns74BWAS-1714
NationalityGreat Britain
OperatorRoyal Navy
Ordered23.7.1781BWAS-1714
Keel Laid Down7.1782BWAS-1714
Launched11.2.1785BWAS-1714
First Commissioned27.10.1790BWAS-1714
How acquiredBuilt by ContractBWAS-1714
ShipyardDeptford Green - Deptford - Barnards' Thames Yards BWAS-1714
Ship ClassCanada Class - Modified (1781)BWAS-1714
Designed by
William BatelyBritish
Designer
Ship Builder
Dockyard Staff
Service 1741-1755
BWAS-1714
Constructor
William BarnardBritish
Ship Builder
Service 1763-1795
BWAS-1714
CategoryThird RateBWAS-1714
Ship TypeShip of the LineBWAS-1714
Sailing RigShip RiggedBWAS-1714
Broken Up4.1816BWAS-1714

Dimensions


DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck170' 6"Imperial Feet51.8182 
Length of Keel141' 0"Imperial Feet42.9768 
Breadth46' 9 ½"Imperial Feet14.0335 
Depth in Hold20' 6"Imperial Feet6.2484 
Draught Forward12' 2"Imperial Feet3.683 
Draught Aft18' 3"Imperial Feet5.4959 
Burthen1,642 8⁄94Imperial Feet0.0022 

Armament


3.1793Broadside Weight = 891 Imperial Pound ( 404.0685 kg)BWAS-1714
Lower Gun Deck28 British 32-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck30 British 18-Pounder
Quarterdeck8 British 32-Pound Carronade
Quarterdeck6 British 9-Pounder
Forecastle4 British 9-Pounder

1.1813Broadside Weight = 1042 Imperial Pound ( 472.547 kg)BWAS-1714
Lower Gun Deck28 British 32-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck28 British 42-Pounder Carronade
Forecastle1 British 12-Pounder

Crew Complement


Date# of MenNotesSource
1781550Design Complement

17 Ship Commanders


DatesRankNameSource
27.10.1790 - 28.1.1793Captain
William WaldegraveBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1772-1810
Transfered ADM 6/24/82BWAS-17141.3.1793 - 1.1795Captain
Charles CottonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1772-1810
: on board from 6.3.1793 ADM 6/24/215BWAS-17141.1795 - 1.8.1798Captain
George Blagden WestcottBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1777-1794
† Discharged DeadBWAS-17142.10.1798 - 8.10.1798Lieutenant
Robert CuthbertBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1777-1802
BWAS-17147.1799 - 2.12.1799Captain
George Johnstone HopeBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1781-1815
BWAS-17143.1801 - 1.10.1802Captain
Davidge GouldBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1779-1819
: on board from 4.3.1801BWAS-17146.1803 - 6.1804Captain
Rt Hon. Amelius BeauclerkBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1782-1890
NBD18496.1804Captain
Edward HawkerBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1796-1831
BWAS-17146.1804 - 1805Captain
Rt Hon. Amelius BeauclerkBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1782-1890
NBD18491805 - 1806Captain
Joseph HanwellBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1781-1814
BWAS-17141806 - 11.1807Captain
George HartBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1778-1811
BWAS-171411.1807Captain
Valentine CollardBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1793-1810
BWAS-171411.1807 - 10.1808Captain
George HartBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1778-1811
BWAS-171410.1808 - 1.1809Captain
Mathew ForsterBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1790-1809
BWAS-17141.1809Captain
Frederick WatkinsBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1790-1847
BWAS-17141.1809 - 20.2.1810Captain
Thomas HarveyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1794-1821
BWAS-17141.1813 - 24.6.1815Captain
John HayesBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1793-1815
: on board from 23.1.1813BWAS-1714

3 Flag Officers


DatesRankNameSource
1.1795 - 1796Vice-Admiral of the Blue
Benjamin CaldwellBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1753-1805
BWAS-17141796 - 14.6.1796Admiral of the Blue
Sir John Laforey (1st Baronet Laforey)British
Naval Sailor
Service 1748-1797
†BWAS-17141805 - 1807Rear-Admiral of the Red
Thomas Macnamara RussellBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1760-1812
BWAS-1714

23 Commissioned Officers


DatesRankNameSource
28.10.1790 - 13.3.1793First Lieutenant
George BurltonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1777-1802
Transfered ADM 6/24/83ADM 6/2428.10.1790 - 13.12.1790Second Lieutenant
Ludlow SheilsBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1780-1793
Transfered ADM 6/24/83ADM 6/2428.10.1790 - 2.11.1790Fourth Lieutenant
George VaughanBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1788-1796
ADM 6/24/83ADM 6/2428.10.1790 - 2.11.1790Fifth Lieutenant
Francis Richard StratonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1790-1801
ADM 6/24/83ADM 6/243.11.1790 - 31.3.1793Third Lieutenant
George VaughanBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1788-1796
ADM 6/24/85ADM 6/243.11.1790 - 24.6.1793Fourth Lieutenant
Francis Richard StratonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1790-1801
Transfered ADM 6/24/85ADM 6/243.11.1790 - 9.1.1791Fifth Lieutenant
George Samuel HarrisBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1790-1803
Transfered ADM 6/24/85ADM 6/241.3.1793 - 1794First Lieutenant
Chapman JacobsBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1779-1794
ADM 6/24/215ADM 6/241.3.1793 - 1793Second Lieutenant
John ThornBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1783-1793
ADM 6/24/215ADM 6/241.4.1793 - 18.8.1793Third Lieutenant
John Fairfax StoryBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1782-1795
ADM 6/24/225ADM 6/2415.4.1793 - 18.8.1793Fourth Lieutenant
Charles RandleBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1783-1810
ADM 6/24/229ADM 6/2421.5.1793 - 18.8.1793Fifth Lieutenant
Bonamy BradbyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1790-1794
ADM 6/24/240ADM 6/2419.8.1793 - 10.4.1794Third Lieutenant
Charles RandleBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1783-1810
ADM 6/24/262ADM 6/2419.8.1793 - 10.4.1794Fourth Lieutenant
Bonamy BradbyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1790-1794
ADM 6/24/262ADM 6/2419.8.1793 - 10.4.1794Fifth Lieutenant
John TresaharBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1793-1794
ADM 6/24/262ADM 6/2411.4.1794 - 1794Third Lieutenant
Bonamy BradbyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1790-1794
ADM 6/25/29ADM 6/2511.4.1794 - 1794Fourth Lieutenant
John TresaharBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1793-1794
ADM 6/2511.4.1794 - 1794Fifth Lieutenant
William ButterfieldBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1794-1837
ADM 6/25/29ADM 6/251798 - 2.10.1798First Lieutenant
Robert CuthbertBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1777-1802
TNC1805 - 7.1807Lieutenant
Samuel BromleyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1792-1812
NBD18491807 - 13.10.1807First Lieutenant
Corbet James d'AuvergneBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1794-1814
ref:7197.2.1807 - 8.5.1810Lieutenant
John BaikieBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1800-1814
NBD18491.7.1807 - 1808Lieutenant
John KainsBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1807-1846
NBD1849

6 Warrant Officers


DatesRankNameSource
16.3.1793 - 24.6.1795Master
Andrew TraceyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1777-1795
ADM 29-11794Surgeon
Leonard GillespieBritish
Naval Sailor
Medic
Service 1781-1804
ref:9241794Purser
John C MangerBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1794
ref:9241794Gunner
David MurdochBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1783-1794
ref:9241794Carpenter
Richard TamplinBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1783-1794
ref:9241794Boatswain
William OrrBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1780-1794
ref:924

9 Petty Officers


DatesRatingNameSource
10.1793 - 1796Midshipman
Christopher William BettyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1793-1832
NBD18491794Master's Mate
Thomas MuirBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1794-1831
ADM 171/81795 - 31.10.1795Midshipman
Charles Philip Butler BatemanBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1790-1910
NBD184918.7.1795 - 7.4.1796Master's Mate
Robinson KittoeBritish
Naval Sailor
Dockyard Staff
Service 1780-1820
ADM 29/88.3.1799 - 2.12.1799Midshipman
The Hon. William CathcartBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1795-1804
NRS0201808 - 2.1810Midshipman
William AllenBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1805-1864
W0331813 - 6.1815Midshipman
Charles BrandBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1810-1823
NBD18494.1813 - 6.1815Midshipman
William Henry WoodhamBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1808-1815
NBD184919.5.1813 - 24.6.1815Coxswain
Edward HartBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1807-1815
ADM 29/8

11 Crewmen


DatesRatingNameSource
1794Able Seaman
John MillerBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1794
ADM 171/81794Able Seaman
Richard BarreyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1794
ADM 171/81794Ordinary Seaman
Thomas WakleyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1794
ADM 171/81794Ordinary Seaman
Robert AxfordBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1794
ADM 171/81794Landman
John StarkeyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1794
ADM 171/81794Landman
John PryorBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1794
ADM 171/81794Landman
Joseph FitzgeraldBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1794
ADM 171/81794Landman
Robert ChambersBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1794
ADM 171/81794Quarter Gunner
Jonathan WrightBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1794
ADM 171/81794Quarter Gunner
John BarnesBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1794
ADM 171/83.9.1808 - 1.18091st Class Volunteer
Richard BuxtonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1808-1829
NBD1849

3 Marines


DatesRankNameSource
1794Ensign, 2nd Regiment of Foot
Henry HarrisonBritish
Marine
Soldier
Service 1794
ref:9241794Lieutenant, 2nd Regiment of Foot
John KingsburyBritish
Marine
Soldier
Service 1794
ref:9241794Captain, 2nd Regiment of Foot
Charles Ludwig ForchBritish
Marine
Soldier
Service 1794
ref:924

Service History


DateEventSource
11.2.1785Completed at Deptford - London at a cost of £31543.16.4dBWAS-1714
11.2.1785Began fitting at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford BWAS-1714
5.1785Completed fitting at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford at a cost of £5924.0.0dBWAS-1714
5.1785Began fitting at Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich BWAS-1714
28.5.1785Completed fitting at Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich at a cost of £4867.0.0dBWAS-1714
9.1790Began small repair at Chatham Dockyard - Chatham BWAS-1714
10.1791Completed small repair at Chatham Dockyard - Chatham at a cost of £4581.8.5dBWAS-1714
3.1793Returned from the West IndiesBWAS-1714
1.6.1794Glorious 1st of June
4.1797making good defects at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth at a cost of £7467.0.0dBWAS-1714
6.1797Sailed for the MediterraneanBWAS-1714
14.11.1797Took the Corvette
Bolador (16) 1797-1797
Spanish 16 Gun
Unrated Corvette
BG
1.8.1798Battle of the Nile
2.12.1799

Paid off

ADM 35
11.2.1802Sailed for the West IndiesBWAS-1714
1.10.1802

Paid off

ADM 35
31.8.1807Present at the surrender of HeligolandBWAS-1714
10.1808In the BalticBWAS-1714
5.1809Her boats took the 2-gun SpiderBWAS-1714
20.2.1810

Paid off and laid up at Chatham

ADM 35
1.1813Began fitting at Chatham Dockyard - Chatham BWAS-1714
5.1813Refitted as a 58 gun Fourth Rate Ship of the Line
5.1813Completed fitting at Chatham Dockyard - Chatham BWAS-1714
2.6.1813Sailed for North AmericaBWAS-1714
3.2.1814Took the Frigate
La Terpsichore (44) 1812-1814
French 44 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
in the Atlantic
22.5.1814Took the Schooner
Dominica (14) 1813-1814
American 14 Gun
Privateer Schooner

15.1.1815Took the Frigate
President (44) 1800-1815
American 44 Gun
5th Rate Frigate

24.6.1815Paid offADM 35


Fleets

DatesFleetFleet CommanderSource
14.8.1798-1798Saumarez's Squadron 1798
Sir James SaumarezBritish
Naval Sailor
 
 
Previous comments on this page

Posted by Jon Miller on Tuesday 30th of June 2026 03:30

Portsmouth, 30 March 1816: The following thirty ships, at this port, are ordered to be sold, or taken to pieces. Those employed as receiving ships, powder ships, and military depots, are to be retained so long as they may be required for those services: Blake, Fortunee, Gladiator, Malacca, Emerald, Castor, Prince, Excellent, Elephant, Mars, Magnificent, Royal Oak, Swiftsure, Victorious, York, Hyperion, Atlas, Fortitude, San Antonio, Bull Dog, Alcide, Robust, Cuba, Squirrel, Pluto, Speedy, Prince George, Arve Princen, Hygeia.
The Tuscan and Tickler, at Plymouth, are to be sold; the Majestic and Medusa have been broken up at Pater Yard. [Hampshire Telegraph, 1 April 1816]

Posted by Tim Oakley on Wednesday 2nd of June 2021 19:34

Circa 27 Jun 1803 Mr. Bass, late Purser of the Conquerant, apptd to the Majestic.

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