British Third Rate ship of the line 'Sceptre' (1781)

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Sceptre	386
Nominal Guns	64
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	16.1.1779
Keel Laid Down	5.1780
Launched	8.6.1781
How acquired	Purpose built
Shipyard	Rotherhithe - London - Surrey
Ship Class	Inflexible Class (1777)
Designed by	John WilliamsBritish Designer Ship Builder Service 1762-1784
Constructor	John RandallBritish Designer Ship Builder Service 1780-1802
Category	Third Rate
Ship Type	Ship of the Line
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged
Wrecked	5.11.1799

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck159' 9"Imperial Feet48.4671
Length of Keel131' 3"Imperial Feet39.9313
Breadth44' 9"Imperial Feet13.4684
Depth in Hold18' 0"Imperial Feet5.4864
Burthen1,397 ⁷⁰⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

8.6.1781Broadside Weight = 600 Imperial Pound ( 272.1 kg)BWAS-1793
Lower Gun Deck26 British 24-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck26 British 18-Pounder
Quarterdeck10 British 9-Pounder
Forecastle2 British 9-Pounder

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
1777500Design Complement

7 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
2.6.1781 - 11.12.1781Captain Discharged ADM 6/22/295BWAS-171411.12.1781 - 5.6.1784Captain ADM 6/22/381BWAS-171422.11.1790Captain ADM 6/24/88ADM 6/2420.3.1793 - 1795Captain ADM 6/24/222BWAS-17141795 - 3.1797CaptainBWAS-17143.1797 - 9.1797CaptainBWAS-17149.1797 - 5.11.1799CaptainBWAS-1714

1 Flag Officer

DatesRankNameSource
1795Vice-Admiral of the WhiteBWAS-1714

13 Commissioned Officers

DatesRankNameSource
4.11.1790 - 7.1.1793Third Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/24/87ADM 6/2422.11.1790 - 10.12.1792First Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/24/90ADM 6/2422.11.1790 - 15.4.1791Second Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/24/90ADM 6/2422.11.1790 - 10.2.1793Fourth Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/24/90ADM 6/2420.3.1793 - 1793First Lieutenant ADM 6/24/222ADM 6/2420.3.1793 - 10.10.1793Second Lieutenant ADM 6/24/222ADM 6/2420.3.1793 - 10.10.1793Third Lieutenant ADM 6/24/222ADM 6/2420.3.1793 - 10.10.1793Fourth Lieutenant ADM 6/24/222ADM 6/241.4.1793 - 22.10.1793Fifth Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/24/225ADM 6/2411.10.1793 - 1793Second Lieutenant ADM 6/24/274ADM 6/2411.10.1793 - 1793Third Lieutenant ADM 6/24/274ADM 6/2411.10.1793 - 17.10.1793Fourth Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/24/274ADM 6/2425.10.1793 - 1793Fourth Lieutenant ADM 6/24/277ADM 6/24

1 Petty Officer

DatesRatingNameSource
18.7.1794 - 19.8.1796Master's MateIPC

Service History

DateEventSource
17.8.1781Completed at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford at a cost of £37811.17.5dBWAS-1714
6.2.1782Sailed for the East IndiesBWAS-1714
13.7.1782Arrived in the East IndiesBWAS-1714
3.9.1782Battle of Trincomalee
14.4.1783Took the Corvette in the East Indies
20.6.17832nd Battle of Cuddalore
5.6.1784Paid offADM 51
8.1784fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714
1.1785Began small repair at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714
7.1785Completed small repair at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth at a cost of £14148.18.11dBWAS-1714
4.1.1794Operations against San Domingo

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

ADM 51 Archive

ADM 6/24 Archive

BWAS-1714Rif Winfield, Book

BWAS-1793Rif Winfield, Book

IPC Document

Previous comments on this page

Posted by Jon Miller on Sunday 31st of May 2026 16:12

We are concerned to announce the loss of the Sceptre of 64 guns, Captain Edwards, armed en flute. She drove on shore in Table Bay, at the Cape of Good Hope, and the Captain, his brother and about sixty-one men, unfortunately perished. The Sceptre had on board all the colours and trophies captured at Seringapatam. [Hull Packet, 28 January 1800]

Posted by Pat Langridge on Tuesday 5th of September 2017 07:45

I believe my G G Grandad Thomas Cox was on this ship in 1796.
He came from Portsmouth at the time.
He was born about 1781.
He was living in Portsea.
Would you be able to tell me where I could get details about him signing up.
I am not sure where in Hampshire he was born.
Many Thanks.
Patricia Langridge.

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