French Fourth Rate ship of the line 'Le Romulus' (1781)

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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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Service 1728-1749
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Le Romulus ➡ 1784 Résolution ➡ 1787 Résolution ➡ 1787 Reine
Nominal Guns	44	BWAS-1714
Nationality	Royaume de France
Operator	Marine Royale
Previously	British Fifth Rate ship of the line 'Romulus' (1777) (44) 1777-1781 British 44 Gun 5th Rate Ship of the Line
Captured	19.2.1781	BWAS-1714
Shipyard	Buckler's Hard - Hampshire	BWAS-1714
Ship Class	Roebuck Class (1769)	BWAS-1714
Designed by	Sir Thomas SladeBritish Designer Ship Builder Dockyard Staff Service 1744-1783	BWAS-1714
Constructor	Henry AdamsBritish Designer Ship Builder Service 1713-1805	BWAS-1714
Category	Fourth Rate	BWAS-1714
National Rate	Troisième Rang	BWAS-1714
Ship Type	Ship of the Line	BWAS-1714
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	BWAS-1714
Hulked	6.1789	BWAS-1714

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck140' 0"Imperial Feet42.672
Length of Keel115' 8 ½"Imperial Feet35.0647
Breadth37' 11"Imperial Feet11.2812
Depth in Hold16' 4"Imperial Feet4.8937
Burthen884 ⁷⁶⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

3.1781Broadside Weight = 354 French Livre (382.0368 lbs 173.283 kg)NNF-1774
Lower Gun Deck26 French 18-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck18 French 12-Pounder
Quarterdeck4 French 6-Pounder

1787Broadside Weight = 291 French Livre (314.0472 lbs 142.4445 kg)NNF-1774
Lower Gun Deck20 French 18-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck22 French 9-Pounder
Quarterdeck4 French 6-Pounder

1 Ship Commander

DatesRankNameSource
19.2.1781 - 1783Lieutenant de VaisseauE-WIKI

Service History

DateEventSource
16.3.1781Battle of Cape Henry
6.11.1784Renamed RésolutionFWAS1786
12.1784Began repairs at Brest - Brittany NNF-1774
1.1787Renamed ReineBWAS-1714
3.1787Renamed RésolutionBWAS-1714
6.1789

Hulked at Mauritius

FWAS1786
30.1850Completed repairs at Brest - Brittany NNF-1774

Fleets
Dates	Fleet	Fleet Commander	Source
4.1781-1781	Division Le Saige	Jacques-Aime Le Saige (Chevalier de la Villebrune)French Naval Sailor Service 1780-1781

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

BWAS-1714Rif Winfield, Book

E-WIKIVarious, Web Site

FWAS1786Stephen S. Roberts, Rif Winfield, Book

NNF-1774Alain Demerliac, Book

Previous comments on this page

Posted by F.F. on Tuesday 23rd of September 2025 21:04

I was wrong in doubting she was used aa a line of battle ship by the French Navy: the article links to anarticle about the battle of Cape Henry, where le Romulus, then having sustain no rebuild from her capture, fought under French flag.

Posted by F.F. on Tuesday 23rd of September 2025 20:49

Not used as a ship of the line by France?

According to Pierre Le Conte's « Répertoire des navires de guerre français » (Cherbourg, 1932, pp. 135 and 137; can be read on line on gallica bnf fr), the English ship of the line the Romulus, taken by the French in 1781, was renamed la Résolution in 1784, and used as a frigate (as a razee, I assume), from 1785 to 1789, cruising to China, under d’Entrecasteaux, in 1786.

Posted by pothkan on Sunday 14th of September 2025 06:42

"30.1850Completed repairs at Brest - Brittany NNF-1774" seems to be a mistake. Demerliac states that she was last mentioned in 1796, there's nothing about 1850.

Posted by CY on Sunday 7th of September 2025 13:44

Check the previous incarnation link.

Posted by Martyn Kitson on Sunday 7th of September 2025 09:05

Do yoiu have any information on the Romulus when it was a British ship - where did it sail, who was the captain, what happened when it was captured

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