British fireship 'Lucifer' (1778)

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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)
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(1841)
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(1790)
Pembroke (60) 1733-1749
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4th Rate Ship of the Line
(1733)
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Service 1728-1749
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Lucifer ➡ 1779 Avenger
Nominal Guns	8	BWAS-1714
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Acquired	9.10.1778	BWAS-1714
How acquired	Purchased on the Stocks	BWAS-1714
Shipyard	Rotherhithe - London - Surrey	BWAS-1714
Constructor	John RandallBritish Designer Ship Builder Service 1780-1802	BWAS-1714
Category	Unrated	BWAS-1714
Ship Type	Fireship	BWAS-1714
Sold	12.6.1783	BWAS-1714

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck97' 10"Imperial Feet29.5656
Length of Keel79' 4 ¼"Imperial Feet24.0856
Breadth28' 4 ¼"Imperial Feet8.5408
Depth in Hold12' 11"Imperial Feet3.6703
Burthen339 ³²⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

10.1778Broadside Weight = 18 Imperial Pound ( 8.1632 kg)BWAS-1714
Gun Deck8 British 4-Pounder
Gun Deck8 British 1/2-Pound Swivel

13.12.1779Broadside Weight = 35.5 Imperial Pound ( 16.0996 kg)BWAS-1714
Gun Deck16 British 4-Pounder
Gun Deck14 British 1/2-Pound Swivel

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
10.177845 BWAS-1714
13.12.1779120 BWAS-1714

7 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
2.10.1778 - 15.5.1780Commander ADM 6/21/456BWAS-17141.1780 - 5.1780CommanderBWAS-171415.5.1780 - 1.12.1780Commander ADM 6/22/166
Issued by , North America
Confirmed 5.9.1780BWAS-17141.12.1780 - 7.5.1781Commander Transfered ADM 6/23/167
Issued by , North America
Confirmed 24.11.1783ADM 6/233.7.1781 - 28.11.1781Commander TransferedBWAS-171429.11.1781 - 2.8.1782Commander ADM 6/22/496
Issued by , North America
Confirmed 17.7.1782ADM 6/222.8.1782 - 6.1783Commander ADM 6/23/74
Issued by , North America
Confirmed 23.5.1783BWAS-1714

1 Commissioned Officer

DatesRankNameSource
5.1.1783 - 1783Lieutenant ADM 6/23/158
Issued by , North America
Confirmed 6.11.1783ADM 6/23

Service History

DateEventSource
9.10.1778building at Rotherhithe - London - Surrey at a cost of £3899.19.5dBWAS-1714
9.10.1778Began fitting at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford BWAS-1714
17.12.1778Completed fitting at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford at a cost of £2706.8.0dBWAS-1714
23.5.1779Sailed for North AmericaBWAS-1714
13.12.1779Refitted as a 16 gun Unrated Unknown
13.12.1779Renamed AvengerBWAS-1714
12.6.1783Condemned and sold at New York for £1,519.17.9dBWAS-1714

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

ADM 6/22 Archive

ADM 6/23 Archive

BWAS-1714Rif Winfield, Book

Previous comments on this page

Posted by Tim Oakley on Monday 25th of June 2012 06:20

5 April 1779 Lucifer 8 [fire ship] commander Howell Lloyd at Portsmouth

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Recent comments to other pages

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"
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