British Fifth Rate frigate 'Brilliant' (1757)

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Brilliant
Nominal Guns	36	BWAS-1714
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	29.7.1756	BWAS-1714
Keel Laid Down	28.8.1756	BWAS-1714
Named	17.3.1757	BWAS-1714
Launched	27.10.1757	BWAS-1714
First Commissioned	20.10.1757	BWAS-1714
How acquired	Purpose built	BWAS-1714
Shipyard	Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth	BWAS-1714
Ship Class	Venus Class (1756)	BWAS-1714
Designed by	Sir Thomas SladeBritish Designer Ship Builder Dockyard Staff Service 1744-1783	BWAS-1714
Constructor	Thomas BucknallBritish Ship Builder Dockyard Staff Service 1728-1772	BWAS-1714
Category	Fifth Rate	BWAS-1714
Ship Type	Frigate	BWAS-1714
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	BWAS-1714
Sold	1.11.1776	BWAS-1714
Becomes	British Merchant merchantman 'Brilliant' (1776) (Unknown) 1776-1782 British Unknown Gun Merchant Merchantman

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck128' 4"Imperial Yard117.0432 (384′ 0″ Imperial)
Length of Keel106' 2 ⅝"Imperial Yard96.9264 (318′ 0″ Imperial)
Breadth35' 8"Imperial Yard32.004 (105′ 0″ Imperial)
Depth in Hold12' 4"Imperial Yard10.9728 (36′ 0″ Imperial)
Burthen718 ³⁸⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

27.10.1757Broadside Weight = 189 Imperial Pound ( 85.7118 kg)BWAS-1714
Upper Gun Deck26 British 12-Pounder
Quarterdeck8 British 6-Pounder
Forecastle2 British 6-Pounder
Quarterdeck/Forecastle12 British 1/2-Pound Swivel

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
13.7.1756240Design Complement

2 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
20.10.1757 - 15.11.1759Captain Transfered ADM 6/18/447BWAS-171415.11.1759 - 19.3.1763Captain ADM 6/19/112BWAS-1714

Service History

DateEventSource
27.10.1757building at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth at a cost of £13642.11.3dBWAS-1714
4.12.1757Took the Frigate
1758Sank the Bayonne Privateer BWAS-1714
1758Took the Privateer BG
1758Took the Privateer BG
5.6.1758Raid on Saint-Malo
17.4.1759Took the Privateer in the Latitude of 46. 00. about 200 leagues to the Westward of Cape ClearBG
3.7.1759Bombardment of Le Havre
28.2.1760Action of February 28 1760
28.2.1760Took the Frigate off the Isle of Man
28.2.1760Took the Frigate off the Isle of Man
1761Took the Privateer
13.6.1761Action of 13th June 1761
13.8.1761Bellona vs Le Courageux
7.4.1762Took the Privateer and carried in Plymouth with his prize retaken "Elizabeth and Anna"of London, William Gowland, Master, from Maryland .BG
10.4.1762Took the Privateer and carried in PlymouthBG
1763Took the Privateer
19.3.1763

Paid off

ADM 51
2.6.1763

Surveyed

BWAS-1714
2.11.1770

Surveyed

BWAS-1714
1.11.1776

Sold at Deptford for £800

BWAS-1714

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

ADM 51 Archive

BGOfficial, Web Site

BWAS-1714Rif Winfield, Book

Previous comments on this page

Posted by Robert Boon on Saturday 11th of February 2017 15:13

Admiralty Office, April 8.
Captain Parker, of His Majesty's Ship the Brilliant is arrived at Plymouth, and has brought in with him two Ships he took in his late Cruize, one called La Nymphe of Grandvill, commanded by Jacques de la Forterie, and has 20 six Pounder Guns and 160 Men; the other La Vengeur of Dunkirk, commanded by Gaspard Lyon, mounts 22 six Pounder Guns and had 90 Men.

London Gazette Publication date: 4 April 1758 Issue: 9780 Page:2

Gaspard Lyon already has an entry as Gaspard Lion

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