British Second Rate ship of the line 'London' (1766)

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London	103
Nominal Guns	90	BWAS-1714
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	13.12.1758	BWAS-1714
Keel Laid Down	4.11.1759	BWAS-1714
Named	28.12.1760	BWAS-1714
Launched	24.5.1766	BWAS-1714
First Commissioned	12.11.1778	BWAS-1714
How acquired	Purpose built	BWAS-1714
Shipyard	Chatham Dockyard - Chatham	BWAS-1714
Designed by	Sir Thomas SladeBritish Designer Ship Builder Dockyard Staff Service 1744-1783	BWAS-1714
Constructor	Edward AllinBritish Designer Ship Builder Dockyard Staff Service 1750-1767	BWAS-1714
Category	Second Rate	BWAS-1714
Ship Type	Ship of the Line	BWAS-1714
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	BWAS-1714
Broken Up	4.1811	BWAS-1714

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck177' 6"Imperial Feet53.9516
Length of Keel144' 1 ⅛"Imperial Feet43.8944
Breadth49' 8 ⅝"Imperial Feet14.9511
Depth in Hold21' 0"Imperial Feet6.4008
Draught Forward13' 3"Imperial Feet3.9878
Draught Aft17' 6"Imperial Feet5.2034
Burthen1,870 ⁹³⁄₉₄Imperial Feet0.0251

Armament

11.1778Broadside Weight = 931 Imperial Pound ( 422.2085 kg)BWAS-1714
Lower Gun Deck28 British 32-Pounder
Middle Gun Deck30 British 18-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck30 British 12-Pounder
Quarterdeck8 British 6-Pounder
Forecastle2 British 9-Pounder

1790Broadside Weight = 958 Imperial Pound ( 434.453 kg)BWAS-1714
Lower Gun Deck28 British 32-Pounder
Middle Gun Deck30 British 18-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck30 British 12-Pounder
Quarterdeck8 British 12-Pounder
Forecastle2 British 12-Pounder

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
11.1778750EstablishmentBWAS-1714

17 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
12.11.1778 - 9.9.1779Captain Transfered ADM 6/21/473BWAS-17149.9.1779 - 25.9.1781Captain ADM 6/22/25BWAS-171425.9.1781 - 20.7.1783Captain ADM 6/22/455
Issued by , North America
Confirmed 20.4.1782BWAS-171410.5.1790 - 1.10.1790Captain Transfered ADM 6/24/26ref:6161.10.1790 - 20.1.1791Captain ADM 6/24/72BWAS-171420.1.1791 - 24.9.1791Captain ADM 6/24/103ADM 6/245.4.1793 - 1.3.1794Captain ADM 6/24/226BWAS-171418.7.1794 - 1.1795Captain ADM 6/25/63BWAS-17141.1795 - 12.1797CaptainBWAS-171412.1797 - 11.1799CaptainBWAS-17142.1801 - 5.1801CaptainBWAS-17145.1801 - 8.1801CaptainBWAS-17148.1801 - 10.5.1802CaptainBWAS-171426.8.1805 - 27.11.1805CaptainBWAS-171411.1805 - 6.1806CaptainBWAS-17146.1806 - 7.1806CaptainBWAS-17147.1806 - 26.6.1809CaptainBWAS-1714

9 Flag Officers

DatesRankNameSource
19.3.1779 - 1782Rear-Admiral of the Blue ADM 107/3/474BWAS-171410.1782 - 7.1783Rear-Admiral of the RedBWAS-17145.1790 - 11.1790Vice-Admiral of the Blue ADM 6/25/53PMD5.1793 - bef.1.3.1794Rear-Admiral of the RedBWAS-17148.1794 - 14.5.1795Rear-AdmiralBWAS-171428.7.1795 - 8.12.1796Admiral of the White TransferedE-WIKI1796Vice-Admiral of the BlueBWAS-17142.1801 - 1802Admiral of the BlueBWAS-17141802 - 9.2.1802Admiral of the White† Discharged Dead ADM 107/3/474BWAS-1714

43 Commissioned Officers

DatesRankNameSource
2.1781 - 3.1782Lieutenantref:61626.9.1781 - 11.11.1782Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/23/27
Confirmed 26.2.1783ADM 6/2310.8.1782 - 16.11.1782Sixth Lieutenant ADM 6/23/148
Issued by , Jamaica - Greater Antilles
Confirmed 4.10.1783ADM 6/2316.11.1782 - 16.12.1782Fifth Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/23/148
Issued by , Jamaica - Greater Antilles
Confirmed 4.10.1783ADM 6/2323.7.1790 - 30.9.1790Eighth Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/24/54ADM 6/2428.7.1790 - 5.10.1790Fifth Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/24/56ADM 6/2412.10.1790 - 21.11.1790First Lieutenant ADM 6/24/75ADM 6/2412.10.1790 - 16.12.1790Second Lieutenant ADM 6/24/75ADM 6/2412.10.1790 - 16.12.1790Second Lieutenant ADM 6/24/75ADM 6/2412.10.1790 - 16.12.1790Fourth Lieutenant ADM 6/24/75ADM 6/2412.10.1790 - 16.12.1790Fifth Lieutenant ADM 6/24/75ADM 6/2412.10.1790 - 16.12.1790Sixth Lieutenant ADM 6/24/75ADM 6/2412.10.1790 - 16.12.1790Seventh Lieutenant ADM 6/24/75ADM 6/2417.12.1790 - 19.1.1791First Lieutenant ADM 6/24/95ADM 6/2417.12.1790 - 19.1.1791Second Lieutenant ADM 6/24/95ADM 6/2417.12.1790 - 19.1.1791Third Lieutenant ADM 6/24/95ADM 6/2417.12.1790 - 19.1.1791Fourth Lieutenant ADM 6/24/95ADM 6/2417.12.1790 - 19.1.1791Fifth Lieutenant ADM 6/24/95ADM 6/2417.12.1790 - 19.1.1791Sixth Lieutenant ADM 6/24/95ADM 6/2417.12.1790 - 19.1.1791Seventh Lieutenant ADM 6/24/95ADM 6/2420.1.1791 - 24.9.1791First Lieutenant ADM 6/24/103ADM 6/2420.1.1791 - 24.9.1791Second Lieutenant ADM 6/24/103ADM 6/2420.1.1791 - 24.9.1791Third Lieutenant ADM 6/24/103ADM 6/2420.1.1791 - 24.9.1791Fourth Lieutenant ADM 6/24/103ADM 6/2420.1.1791 - 24.9.1791Fifth Lieutenant ADM 6/24/103ADM 6/2420.1.1791 - 24.9.1791Sixth Lieutenant ADM 6/24/103ADM 6/2420.1.1791 - 24.9.1791Seventh Lieutenant ADM 6/24/103ADM 6/2420.1.1791 - 29.5.1791Eighth Lieutenant ADM 6/24/103ADM 6/2430.5.1791 - 24.9.1791Eighth Lieutenant ADM 6/24/123ADM 6/245.4.1793 - 8.4.1794First Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/24/226ADM 6/245.4.1793 - 14.4.1794Second Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/24/226ADM 6/245.4.1793 - 24.3.1794Third Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/24/226ADM 6/245.4.1793 - 10.1.1794Fourth Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/24/226ADM 6/245.4.1793 - 13.1.1794Sixth Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/24/226ADM 6/245.4.1793 - 18.4.1794Seventh Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/24/226ADM 6/245.4.1793 - 6.5.1794Eighth Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/24/226ADM 6/2410.1794 - 9.3.1795Lieutenantref:6163.1801 - 10.9.1801Acting LieutenantNBD184910.4.1801 - 10.5.1802Lieutenant ADM 196/3/80ADM 19610.9.1801 - 10.5.1802LieutenantNBD184917.10.1805 - 8.11.1806LieutenantNBD184924.7.1806 - 7.1809LieutenantNBD184924.5.1808 - 14.12.1808LieutenantNBD1849

4 Warrant Officers

DatesRankNameSource
25.6.1791 - 24.9.1791MasterADM 29-11795ChaplainADM 171/811.2.1801 - 7.1801Master13.2.1802 - 1802Carpenter ADM 29/1/23ADM 29-1

8 Petty Officers

DatesRatingNameSource
9.1787 - 12.1793MidshipmanNBD184910.4.1793 - 1.3.1794Midshipmanref:6161798 - 18.11.1798MidshipmanTNC1800 - 6.1801Master's MateNBD18498.1801 - 10.5.1802MidshipmanBWAS-17141806 - 1809MidshipmanNBD18491.1806 - 6.1806MidshipmanNBD18495.1806 - 26.6.1809MidshipmanNBD1849

3 Crewmen

DatesRatingNameSource
12.10.1790 - 24.9.1791Captain's ServantNAO1795BoyADM 171/825.8.1805 - 18061st Class VolunteerNBD1849

Service History

DateEventSource
1766First cost was £53,036.0.0dBWAS-1714
4.1778Started a small repair at ChathamBWAS-1714
19.11.1778

Commissioned for the first time

BWAS-1714
14.2.1779Completed small repair at Chatham at a cost of £15,262.18.5dBWAS-1714
1.1780Coppered and fitted at Portsmouth at a cost of £6,461.16.1dBWAS-1714
17.5.1780Sailed for North AmericaBWAS-1714
16.3.1781Battle of Cape Henry
5.9.1781Battle of the Chesapeake
17.10.1782Action of 1782-10-17
18.10.1782Action of 18 October 1782
26.4.1783Left Jamaica bound for homeBWAS-1714
20.7.1783

Paid off into ordinary

ADM 34
7.1785Started a middling repair at ChathamBWAS-1714
3.1787Completed middling repair at a cost of £36,631.12.11dBWAS-1714
6.1790RecommissionedBWAS-1714
24.9.1791

Paid off

ADM 35
5.1793RecommissionedBWAS-1714
8.1793Joined Earl Howe's squadronBWAS-1714
1.3.1794

Paid off into ordinary

ADM 35
8.1794Recommissioned for Channel serviceBWAS-1714
23.6.1795Action of Ile Groix
1798To the Lisbon stationBWAS-1714
9.1799Returned to England for service in the ChannelBWAS-1714
11.1799Started a refit at PortsmouthBWAS-1714
1.1800Completed refit at a cost of £12,260BWAS-1714
25.8.1800Attack on Ferrol
2.4.1801Battle of Copenhagen
10.5.1802

Paid off into ordinary

ADM 35
4.1805Started fitting at PortsmouthBWAS-1714
8.1805Recommissioned for the Channel fleetBWAS-1714
12.1805Completed fitting at a cost of £39,998BWAS-1714
13.3.1806Action of 1806-03-13
13.3.1806Took the Ship of the Line in the Atlantic
13.3.1806Took the Frigate in the Atlantic
1807Part of the squadron in LisbonBWAS-1714
11.11.1807Sailed for Brazil as part of the escort for the Portugese royal familyBWAS-1714
26.6.1809

Paid off into ordinary

ADM 35
4.1811Broken up at ChathamBWAS-1714

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

ADM 171/8British Admiralty, Document

ADM 196 Document

ADM 29-1 Document

ADM 34 Document

ADM 35 Archive

ADM 6/23 Archive

ADM 6/24 Archive

BWAS-1714Rif Winfield, Book

E-WIKIVarious, Web Site

NAOVarious, Web Site

NBD1849O'Brien, Digital Book

PMD Book

TNCVarious, Periodical

ref:616Nicholas Tracy, Book

Previous comments on this page

Posted by Tim Oakley on Saturday 18th of May 2024 05:07

Oct 1796 London90 Captain Edward Griffith, Vice-Admiral Blue Sir Charles Thompson raises his flag at Portsmouth and took command of the division of the Channel Fleet off Ushant with ten sail of the line and two frigates
29 Oct 1796 Niger32 Captain Edward James Foote, Vice-Admiral Sir John Colpoys joined the squadron off Brest, and exchanged ships with London90 Captain Edward Griffith, Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Thompson leaving ten of the line,

Posted by cy on Monday 6th of June 2016 16:29

Thanks Tim, updated

Posted by Tim Oakley on Monday 6th of June 2016 08:38

I have Between May and Nov. 1790 V-Ad Hood raises his flag in London98 as #4 channel fleet at Spithead during the Spanish armament

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London

Dimensions

Armament

Crew Complement

17 Ship Commanders

9 Flag Officers

43 Commissioned Officers

4 Warrant Officers

8 Petty Officers

3 Crewmen

Service History

Sources

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