British Third Rate ship of the line 'Ganges' (1782)

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Ganges

4416
Nominal Guns74BWAS-1714
NationalityGreat Britain
OperatorRoyal Navy
Ordered14.7.1779BWAS-1714
Keel Laid Down4.1780BWAS-1714
Acquired30.3.1782BWAS-1714
ShipyardRotherhithe - London - Surrey BWAS-1714
Ship ClassGanges Class (1779)BWAS-1714
Designed by
Edward HuntBritish
Ship Builder
Administrator
Dockyard Staff
Service 1757-1809
BWAS-1714
Constructor
John RandallBritish
Designer
Ship Builder
Service 1780-1802
BWAS-1714
CategoryThird RateBWAS-1714
Ship TypeShip of the LineBWAS-1714
Sailing RigShip RiggedBWAS-1714
Broken Up3.1816BWAS-1714

Dimensions


DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck169' 6"Imperial Feet51.5134 
Length of Keel138' 7 ¾Imperial Feet42.0815 
Breadth47' 8 ½"Imperial Feet14.3383 
Depth in Hold20' 3"Imperial Feet6.1722 
Draught Forward12' 6"Tons BM 
Draught Aft18' 4"Tons BM 
Burthen1,678 53⁄94Tons BM 

Armament


1782Broadside Weight = 781 Imperial Pound ( 354.1835 kg)BWAS-1714
Lower Gun Deck28 British 32-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck28 British 18-Pounder
Quarterdeck14 British 9-Pounder
Forecastle4 British 9-Pounder

Crew Complement


Date# of MenNotesSource
1782590EstablishmentBWAS-1714

19 Ship Commanders


DatesRankNameSource
16.3.1782 - 11.1.1783Captain
Charles FieldingBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1756-1778
† ADM 6/22/426ADM 6/2216.12.1782 - 27.1.1783Captain
George VandeputBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1758
TransferedBWAS-171414.1.1783 - 13.3.1783Captain
The Hon. William CornwallisBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1755-1807
Transfered ADM 6/23/8ADM 6/2211.4.1783 - 6.5.1784Captain
The Hon. James LuttrellBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1770-1784
ADM 6/23/48ADM 6/236.5.1784 - 15.12.1787Captain
Sir Roger CurtisBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1762-1810
ADM 6/23/208BWAS-171422.12.1792 - 23.12.1793Captain
Anthony James Pye MolloyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1768-1794
Transfered ADM 6/24/186BWAS-171421.1.1794 - 9.1.1795Captain
William TruscottBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1747-1797
ADM 6/25/7BWAS-17147.1795 - 1796Captain
Benjamin ArcherBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1777-1796
BWAS-17141796 - 4.1796Captain
Lancelot SkynnerBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1790-1794
BWAS-17142.4.1796 - 30.4.1799Captain
Robert McDougallBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1753-1813
BWAS-17148.1800 - 6.1801Captain
Thomas Francis FremantleBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1782-1819
BWAS-17146.1801Captain
James BrisbaneBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1787-1802
BWAS-171410.1801 - 9.1802Captain
Joseph BakerBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1790-1811
BWAS-17149.1802 - 7.1803Captain
George McKinleyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1782-1813
BWAS-17147.1803 - 10.12.1804Captain
Thomas Francis FremantleBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1782-1819
BWAS-17144.1806 - 1807Captain
Peter HalkettBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1789-1815
BWAS-171411.1809 - 10.4.1811Captain
Thomas DundasBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1793-1812
BWAS-17141812 - 1814Lieutenant
Frederick James LerouxBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1794-1814
BWAS-171412.1814 - 1816Lieutenant
James SprattBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1805-1816
BWAS-1714

2 Flag Officers


DatesRankNameSource
24.9.1787Rear-Admiral of the Red
Sir Francis Samuel Drake (1st Baronet Drake)British
Naval Sailor
Service 1749-1780
: on board from 10.1787 TransferedBWAS-17141807 - 1809Rear-Admiral of the Blue
Richard Goodwin KeatsBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1777-1825
BWAS-1714

22 Commissioned Officers


DatesRankNameSource
15.1.1783 - 12.4.1783Fourth Lieutenant
James Butler NorrisBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1782-1793
ADM 6/23/9ADM 6/2312.4.1783 - 19.4.1783Second Lieutenant
Samuel ArthurBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1780-1784
ADM 6/23/48ADM 6/2312.4.1783 - 19.4.1783Third Lieutenant
Edward RiouBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1780-1795
ADM 6/23/48ADM 6/2312.4.1783 - 3.5.1783Fourth Lieutenant
Lawrence William HalsteadBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1781-1837
ADM 6/23/48ADM 6/2319.4.1783 - 31.5.1784First Lieutenant
Samuel ArthurBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1780-1784
ADM 6/23/53ADM 6/2319.4.1783 - 7.6.1784Second Lieutenant
Edward RiouBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1780-1795
ADM 6/23/53ADM 6/233.5.1783 - 7.6.1784Third Lieutenant
Lawrence William HalsteadBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1781-1837
ADM 6/23/62ADM 6/237.6.1784 - 1.12.1785Second Lieutenant
Lawrence William HalsteadBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1781-1837
ADM 6/23/218ADM 6/231.12.1785 - 15.12.1787Third Lieutenant
Lawrence William HalsteadBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1781-1837
ADM 6/23/305ADM 6/2322.12.1792 - 22.12.1793Second Lieutenant
Thomas Pye BennettBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1781-1794
Transfered ADM 6/24/186ADM 6/2422.12.1792 - 22.12.1793Third Lieutenant
Joseph BinghamBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1790-1814
Transfered ADM 6/24/186ADM 6/2422.12.1792 - 22.12.1793Fourth Lieutenant
Nathaniel Charles JonesBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1791-1793
Transfered ADM 6/24/186ADM 6/2422.12.1792Fifth Lieutenant
James CleverlyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1791-1793
Transfered ADM 6/24/186ADM 6/2429.12.1792 - 22.12.1792First Lieutenant
John WhitlyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1779-1795
Transfered ADM 6/24/189ADM 6/2421.1.1794 - 1794Third Lieutenant
Harris SmithBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1790-1794
ADM 6/25/7ADM 6/2521.1.1794 - 28.1.1794Fifth Lieutenant
Charles PickfordBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1794-1809
ADM 6/25/7ADM 6/2522.1.1794 - 19.2.1794First Lieutenant
George Barlow SmithBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1783-1802
ADM 6/25/7ADM 6/2522.1.1794 - 1794Second Lieutenant
Henry BeasantBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1783-1794
ADM 6/25/7ADM 6/2529.1.1794 - 1794Fourth Lieutenant
Charles PickfordBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1794-1809
ADM 6/25/7ADM 6/2529.1.1794 - 1794Fifth Lieutenant
George OrmsbyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1794
ADM 6/25/7ADM 6/2520.2.1794 - 1794First Lieutenant
Alexander MenziesBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1780-1794
ADM 6/25/14ADM 6/2519.4.1806 - 11.3.1808Lieutenant
James BaylyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1799-1856
NBD1849

3 Warrant Officers


DatesRankNameSource
1801 - 2.4.1801Pilot
Isaac DavisBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1801
BG1801 - 2.4.1801Master
Robert StewartBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1801
†BG24.2.1807 - 22.6.1808Master
Luke BrokenshaBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1801-1827
NAO

6 Petty Officers


DatesRatingNameSource
4.1796 - 11.1799Midshipman
Alexander BorthwickBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1795-1818
NBD18491801 - 1804Midshipman
Charles CrowdyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1799-1834
NBD18491802Midshipman
Charles Cowper BenettBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1801-1814
NBD18495.1806 - 1806Midshipman
George InglisBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1805-1813
NBD18491.1808 - 6.1808Midshipman
Jonathon ButcherBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1803-1842
NBD18491.1808 - 4.1811Midshipman
George Henry BowlbyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1806-1817
NBD1849

3 Crewmen


DatesRatingNameSource
31.5.1806 - 1.18081st Class Volunteer
George Henry BowlbyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1806-1817
NBD18496.1807 - 18081st Class Volunteer
Alexander BuchananBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1806-1828
NBD18497.1807 - 5.18101st Class Volunteer
Samuel BrokenshaBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1806-1815
NBD1849

Service History


DateEventSource
30.3.1782Began fitting at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford BWAS-1714
20.4.1782Completed fitting at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford at a cost of £11238.5.9dBWAS-1714
20.4.1782Began coppering and fitting at Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich BWAS-1714
26.6.1782Completed coppering and fitting at Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich at a cost of £3042.6.9dBWAS-1714
20.10.1782Battle of Cape Spartel
11.1.1783

Paid off

BWAS-1714
3.1783Began fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714
8.1783Completed fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth at a cost of £5154.13.5dBWAS-1714
12.1783Recommissioned as guardship at PortsmouthBWAS-1714
11.1790Began great repair at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714
12.1791Completed great repair at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth at a cost of £30023.0.0dBWAS-1714
12.1792RecommissionedBWAS-1714
25.10.1794Sailed for the Leeward IslandsBWAS-1714
30.10.1794Took the Frigate
La Jacobin (24) 1794-1794
French 24 Gun
6th Rate Frigate

4.1796At St LuciaBWAS-1714
26.4.1796Capture of St Lucia
6.1796At GrenadaBWAS-1714
1.1797refitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth at a cost of £13899.0.0dBWAS-1714
6.1800Began small repair at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714
8.1800RecommissionedBWAS-1714
9.1800Completed small repair at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth at a cost of £14133.0.0dBWAS-1714
2.4.1801Battle of Copenhagen
7.1803Paid off and then recommissionedBWAS-1714
11.1804Paid offBWAS-1714
4.1806RecommissionedBWAS-1714
5.1806Began fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714
6.1806Completed fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714
15.8.1807Second Battle of Copenhagen
1.1.1808Sailed for PortugalBWAS-1714
1809In the North SeaBWAS-1714
11.1809Commissioned for the BalticBWAS-1714
1811Paid offBWAS-1714
3.1811Began fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714
4.1811Completed fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714
10.1811Refitted as a Unrated Prison Ship
10.1811fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714
12.1814May have been lent to the Navy Board?BWAS-1714


Fleets

DatesFleetFleet CommanderSource
9.1782-12.1782Fleet for the relief of Gibraltar 1782
Lord Richard Howe (4th Viscount Howe)British
Naval Sailor
Marine
Service 1736-1799
 
 
Previous comments on this page

Posted by Jon Miller on Sunday 31st of May 2026 11:03

Ganges
Casualties in the attack off Copenhagen on 2 April 1801:
Killed – 5
Missing – 1
Total killed and missing - 6
Officers killed – Mr Robert Stewart, Master
Officers wounded – Mr Isaac Davis, badly. [Morning Post, 16 April 1801]

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