British Sixth Rate ship 'Mercury' (1745)

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Mercury
Nominal Guns	20	BWAS-1714
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	11.8.1744	BWAS-1714
Keel Laid Down	9.1744	BWAS-1714
Launched	13.10.1745	BWAS-1714
First Commissioned	17.9.1745	BWAS-1714
How acquired	Purpose built	BWAS-1714
Shipyard	Liverpool - Lancashire	BWAS-1714
Ship Class	1741 Establishment 20-Gunner (1741)	BWAS-1714
Designed by	Jacob AckworthBritish Naval Sailor Designer Ship Builder Dockyard Staff Service 1690-1744	BWAS-1714
Constructor	Richard GolightlyBritish Ship Owner Ship Builder Service 1744-1746	BWAS-1714
Category	Sixth Rate	BWAS-1714
Ship Type	Ship	BWAS-1714
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	BWAS-1714
Broken Up	7.8.1753	BWAS-1714

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck112' 3"Imperial Feet34.144
Length of Keel91' 1 ¾"Imperial Feet27.7559
Breadth32' 3"Imperial Feet9.7917
Depth in Hold11' 0"Imperial Feet3.3528
Burthen504 ²³⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

13.10.1745Broadside Weight = 102 Imperial Pound ( 46.257 kg)BWAS-1714
Lower Gun Deck2 British 9-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck20 British 9-Pounder
Quarterdeck2 British 3-Pounder

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
1741140Design Complement

2 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
17.9.1745 - 19.8.1748Captain ADM 6/16/545BWAS-17147.3.1748/49 - 31.1.1750/51Captain ADM 6/17/446BWAS-1714

2 Commissioned Officers

DatesRankNameSource
28.9.1745 - 19.10.1747Lieutenant ADM 6/17/5ADM 6/1711.3.1748/49 - 24.1.1750/51Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/17/447ADM 6/17

2 Crewmen

DatesRatingNameSource
12.12.1749 - 1.2.1750/51Able Seaman ADM 107/4/256ADM 107/49.6.1750 - 18.1.1750/51Able Seaman Transfered ADM 107/4/254ADM 107/4

Service History

DateEventSource
19.8.1748

Paid off at Sheerness Dockyard

ADM 33
4.1749The quarterdeck was lengthend by 8 feetBWAS-1714
5.1749Recommissioned for NewfoundlandBWAS-1714
1.2.1750/51

Paid off

ADM 33
17.5.1751

Surveyed

BWAS-1714
6.7.1753

Surveyed

BWAS-1714
21.7.1753

Surveyed

BWAS-1714
25.7.1753

Ordered to be broken up

BWAS-1714
7.8.1753Break up completed at WoolwichBWAS-1714

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

ADM 107/4 Archive

ADM 33 Archive

ADM 6/17 Archive

BWAS-1714Rif Winfield, Book

Previous comments on this page

Posted by Jon Miller on Wednesday 3rd of June 2026 19:33

London, 3 February 1750: The Mercury man of war, bound for Lisbon, is put into Plymouth, having lost her foremast. [Kentish Post, 7 February 1750]

Posted by Jon Miller on Sunday 24th of May 2026 16:46

London, 28 February 1751: Monday last the Mercury man of war, of 20 guns, was put out of commission, and yesterday was paid-off at the Pay-Office in Broad-street and this day recalled to Chatham. [Kentish Post, 2 March 1751]

Posted by Jon Miller on Sunday 24th of May 2026 13:12

London, 7 February 1751: Thursday the crew of the Mercury man of war, lately returned from their station off New-England, consisting of 120, and being turned over to the Boston, went in a body to petition the Lords of the Admiralty, before they entered on the Boston. Their Lordships acquainted them, that if they would repair on board without delay, their demands should be satisfied. [Kentish Post, 9 February 1751]

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