British fireship 'Mercury' (1739)

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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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Pembroke (60) 1733-1749
British 60 Gun
4th Rate Ship of the Line
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Service 1728-1749
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Mercury
Nominal Guns	8	BWAS-1714
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Purchased	22.6.1739	BWAS-1714
First Commissioned	3.7.1739	BWAS-1714
Shipyard	Unknown	BWAS-1714
Category	Unrated	BWAS-1714
Ship Type	Fireship	BWAS-1714
Foundered	12.12.1744	BWAS-1714

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck89' 11"Imperial Feet27.13
Length of Keel71' 10 ¼"Imperial Feet21.6472
Breadth23' 10 ¼"Imperial Feet7.0168
Depth in Hold11' 1"Imperial Feet3.3782
Burthen217 ⁴⁵⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

22.6.1739Broadside Weight = 26 Imperial Pound ( 11.7912 kg)BWAS-1714
Gun Deck8 British 6-Pounder
Gun Deck8 British 1/2-Pound Swivel

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
7.173945 BWAS-1714

4 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
4.7.1739 - 30.10.1739Commander ADM 6/15/194BWAS-171417.12.1739 - 1.9.1740Commander ADM 6/16/361BWAS-17142.9.1740 - 16.5.1741Commander Transfered ADM 6/16/115
Confirmed 2.11.1742ADM 6/1617.5.1741 - 12.12.1744Commander ADM 6/16/275
Confirmed 24.2.1743/44BWAS-1714

1 Commissioned Officer

DatesRankNameSource
3.7.1739 - 6.1.1739/40Lieutenant ADM 6/15/194ADM 6/15

Service History

DateEventSource
22.6.1739

Purchased from John Tomlinson

ref:548
22.6.1739building at Unknown at a cost of £625.5.0dBWAS-1714
5.7.1739Began fitting at Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich BWAS-1714
21.8.1739Completed fitting at Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich at a cost of £2555.16.7dBWAS-1714
10.2.1743/44Battle of Toulon

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

ADM 6/15 Archive

ADM 6/16 Archive

BWAS-1714Rif Winfield, Book

ref:548Various, 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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