American Third Rate ship of the line 'America' (1782)

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Britannia (100) 1762-1825
British 100 Gun
1st Rate Ship of the Line
1812 Renamed "Princess Royal"
1812 Renamed "Saint George"
1819 Renamed "Barfleur"
(1762)
Devastation (6) 1841-1866
British 6 Gun
Unrated Steam Sloop
(1841)
Zephyr (8) 1790-1798
British 8 Gun
Merchant East Indiaman
(1790)
Pembroke (60) 1733-1749
British 60 Gun
4th Rate Ship of the Line
(1733)
Mercury (20) 1745-1753
British 20 Gun
6th Rate Ship
(1745)
Seahorse (24) 1748-1784
British 24 Gun
6th Rate Frigate
(1748)
Charles PowlettBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1728-1749
Namur (74) 1746-1749
British 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
(1746)
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3rd Rate Ship of the Line
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America
Nominal Guns	74	DANFS
Nationality	United States of America
Operator	Continental Navy
Ordered	20.11.1776	DANFS
Keel Laid Down	5.1777	DANFS
Launched	5.11.1782	DANFS
How acquired	Purpose built	DANFS
Shipyard	Portsmouth - New Hampshire	DANFS
Designed by	Joshua HumphreysAmerican Designer Ship Builder Service 1751	DANFS
Constructor	John LangdonAmerican Ship Owner Ship Builder Service 1775-1779	DANFS
Category	Third Rate	DANFS
Ship Type	Ship of the Line	DANFS
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	DANFS
Given Away	24.6.1783	DANFS
Becomes	French Third Rate ship of the line 'L'America' (1783) (76) 1783-1786 French 76 Gun 3rd Rate Ship of the Line

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentDANFS
Length of Gundeck183' 6"Imperial Feet55.7802
Breadth50' 6"Imperial Feet15.3924
Depth in Hold23' 0"Imperial Feet7.0104
Burthen1,982Tons BM

Armament

1782Broadside Weight = 525 Imperial Pound ( 238.0875 kg)DANFS
Lower Gun Deck30 American 18 Pounder
Upper Gun Deck32 American 12-Pounder
Quarterdeck8 American 9-Pounder
Forecastle6 American 9-Pounder

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
1782626EstablishmentDANFS

Service History

DateEventSource
25.6.1781Lack of funds and materials delayed her building, the Continental Congress ordered her completion.DANFS
3.9.1782Continental Congress, presented USS America to King Louis XVI as a mark of gratitude for French assistance in the War for Independence.DANFS
5.11.1782Launched and given to the French captain & crew of the Magnifique.DANFS
24.6.1783Departed from Portsmouth, N.H. for Brest.DANFS

Notes on Ship

Details of her Figuerhead
Built at John Langdon's shipyard, Portsmouth, N.H. Her figurehead, planned by John Paul Jones, was the Goddess of Liberty, crowned with laurels. Her right arm was raised with the forefinger pointing to heaven as if appealing to that high tribunal in behalf of the justice of the American cause. Her left arm bore a blue shield, studded with 13 silver stars. Served until 1786 under French flag, when was broken up.(W026).

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

DANFSUnknown, Web Site

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Date posted	By	Page
Monday 8th of June 2026 17:20	F.F.	British First Rate ship of the line 'Britannia' (1762) (100) 1762-1825 British 100 Gun 1st Rate Ship of the Line 1812 Renamed "Princess Royal" 1812 Renamed "Saint George" 1819 Renamed "Barfleur"
Thursday 4th of June 2026 20:01	James Daschuk	British steam sloop 'Devastation' (1841) (6) 1841-1866 British 6 Gun Unrated Steam Sloop
Thursday 4th of June 2026 14:56	AvM	British Merchant east indiaman 'Zephyr' (1790) (8) 1790-1798 British 8 Gun Merchant East Indiaman
Wednesday 3rd of June 2026 19:37	Jon Miller	British Fourth Rate ship of the line 'Pembroke' (1733) (60) 1733-1749 British 60 Gun 4th Rate Ship of the Line
Wednesday 3rd of June 2026 19:33	Jon Miller	British Sixth Rate ship 'Mercury' (1745) (20) 1745-1753 British 20 Gun 6th Rate Ship

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