British Fourth Rate ship of the line 'Bristol' (1775)

Three Decks' Forum

Come and ask, answer or inform.

Recent updates

Added
Sea-flower (4) 1714-1718
British 4 Gun
Merchant Sloop
Added
Charles BainsBritish
Ship Owner
Merchant Sailor
Service 1714-1718
Added
John ScottBritish
Merchant Sailor
Service 1798
Update
La Vengeance (20) 1797-1800
French 20 Gun
Privateer Unknown
Update
Zephyr (8) 1790-1798
British 8 Gun
Merchant East Indiaman
Update
Woodcot (Unknown) 1786-1798
British Unknown Gun
Merchant East Indiaman
Update
Raymond (Unknown) 1782-1798
British Unknown Gun
Merchant East Indiaman (EIC Regular Ship)
Update
Cassandra (26) 1720-1723
Pirate 26 Gun
6th Rate Ship
Update
Cassandra (26) 1719-1720
British 26 Gun
Merchant East Indiaman
Added
Richard LazenbyBritish
Naval Sailor
Pirate
Service 1719-1723
See more...

Bristol	625
Nominal Guns	50	BWAS-1714
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	12.10.1768	BWAS-1714
Keel Laid Down	5.1771	BWAS-1714
Launched	25.10.1775	BWAS-1714
First Commissioned	13.10.1775	BWAS-1714
How acquired	Purpose built	BWAS-1714
Shipyard	Sheerness Dockyard - Sheerness	BWAS-1714
Ship Class	Portland Class (1766)	BWAS-1714
Designed by	John WilliamsBritish Designer Ship Builder Service 1762-1784	BWAS-1714
Constructor	George WhiteBritish Ship Builder Dockyard Staff Service 1773-1779	BWAS-1714
Category	Fourth Rate	BWAS-1714
Ship Type	Ship of the Line	BWAS-1714
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	BWAS-1714
Broken Up	6.1810	BWAS-1714

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck146' 0"Imperial Feet44.5008
Length of Keel119' 9"Imperial Feet36.2832
Breadth40' 7"Imperial Feet12.3698
Depth in Hold17' 6"Imperial Feet5.2034
Draught Forward10' 6"Imperial Feet3.2004
Draught Aft15' 6 ½"Imperial Feet4.5847
Burthen1,049 ⁹⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

25.10.1775Broadside Weight = 414 Imperial Pound ( 187.749 kg)BWAS-1714
Lower Gun Deck22 British 24-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck22 British 12-Pounder
Quarterdeck4 British 6-Pounder
Forecastle2 British 6-Pounder

7.1779Broadside Weight = 486 Imperial Pound ( 220.401 kg)BWAS-1714
Lower Gun Deck22 British 24-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck22 British 12-Pounder
Quarterdeck2 British 24-Pound Carronade
Quarterdeck4 British 6-Pounder
Forecastle2 British 12-Pound Carronade
Forecastle2 British 6-Pounder
Roundhouse6 British 12-Pound Carronade

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
2.4.1766350Design Complement

16 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
13.10.1775 - 5.7.1776Captain† Discharged Dead ADM 6/21/126BWAS-17145.7.1776 - 6.7.1776Captain ADM 6/21/290
Issued by , North America
Confirmed 6.6.1777BWAS-17146.7.1776 - 6.9.1776Captain ADM 6/21/322
Issued by , North America
Confirmed 7.10.1777BWAS-17146.9.1776 - 7.12.1777Captain Transfered ADM 6/21/506
Issued by , North America
Confirmed 1.2.1779PMD7.12.1777 - 25.12.1777Captain Transfered ADM 6/21/417
Issued by , North America
Confirmed 1.6.1778ADM 6/2125.12.1777 - 31.1.1781Captain† Discharged DeadBWAS-171431.1.1781 - 24.9.1781Captain ADM 6/22/360
Issued by , Jamaica - Greater Antilles
Confirmed 6.11.1781BWAS-171426.3.1782 - 18.6.1782Captain ADM 6/22/435ADM 6/2218.6.1782 - 1784Captain ADM 6/22/482BWAS-17141784 - 1786Lieutenant†BWAS-17141786 - 26.7.1786CaptainBWAS-17141.1795 - 5.1797LieutenantBWAS-17145.1797 - 1798LieutenantBWAS-17141800 - 7.11.1801LieutenantBWAS-17146.1806 - 1808LieutenantBWAS-17141808 - 1810LieutenantBWAS-1714

2 Flag Officers

DatesRankNameSource
c.13.10.1775 - 5.9.1776Commodore Transfered ADM 6/22/259BWAS-171428.4.1777 - 1779Rear-Admiral of the Blue ADM 107/1/259BWAS-1714

9 Commissioned Officers

DatesRankNameSource
11.7.1776 - 7.9.1776Acting LieutenantODNB2.7.1778 - 3.9.1778Third Lieutenant TransferedNAO4.9.1778 - 7.12.1778First LieutenantNAO21.12.1778 - 14.8.1780First Lieutenantref:6162.9.1780 - 24.9.1781Second Lieutenant ADM 6/22/340
Issued by , Jamaica - Greater Antilles
Confirmed 17.9.1781ADM 123.3.1782 - 23.8.1782Second Lieutenant ADM 6/22/432ADM 6/2223.3.1782 - 19.4.1782Third Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/22/432ADM 6/2223.8.1782 - 4.9.1784First Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/22/508ADM 6/2212.7.1784 - 26.7.1786Third Lieutenant ADM 6/23/358
Issued by , East Indies - Asia
Confirmed 6.10.1786ADM 6/23

3 Petty Officers

DatesRatingNameSource
9.10.1775 - 11.7.1776Midshipmanref:13591776 - 2.1777Midshipmanref:6161796Master's MateNBD1849

1 Crewman

DatesRatingNameSource
5.1796 - 17971st Class VolunteerNBD1849

Service History

DateEventSource
25.10.1775building at Sheerness Dockyard - Sheerness at a cost of £23440.11.10dBWAS-1714
25.10.1775Began fitting at Sheerness Dockyard - Sheerness BWAS-1714
13.12.1775Completed fitting at Sheerness Dockyard - Sheerness at a cost of £3574.16.5dBWAS-1714
12.2.1776Sailed for North AmericaBWAS-1714
28.6.1776Attack on Sullivan IslandBWAS-1714
6.1777Returned homeBWAS-1714
8.7.1777Sailed for JamaicaBWAS-1714
20.3.17801st Action off Monti Christi
20.6.1780Action off Monti Christi
6.10.1780Dismasted in a hurricaneBWAS-1714
7.1781Arrived homeBWAS-1714
24.9.1781

Paid off

ADM 34
3.1782Began coppering at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth BWAS-1714
6.1782Completed coppering at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth at a cost of £13567.3.11dBWAS-1714
11.9.1782Sailed to the relief of Gibraltar and then to the East IndiesBWAS-1714
20.6.17832nd Battle of Cuddalore
7.1786Voyage homeBWAS-1714
26.7.1786Paid offADM 51
1787Church ship in the MedwayBWAS-1714
11.1794Began fitting at Chatham Dockyard - Chatham BWAS-1714
12.1794Completed fitting at Chatham Dockyard - Chatham BWAS-1714
1.1795Refitted as a Unrated Hospital Ship
7.11.1801

Paid off

ADM 35

Fleets
Dates	Fleet	Fleet Commander	Source
9.1782-12.1782	Fleet for the relief of Gibraltar 1782	Lord Richard Howe (4^th Viscount Howe)British Naval Sailor Marine Service 1736-1799

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

ADM 1Authority, Book

ADM 34 Document

ADM 35 Archive

ADM 51 Archive

ADM 6/21 Archive

ADM 6/22 Archive

ADM 6/23 Archive

BWAS-1714Rif Winfield, Book

NAOVarious, Web Site

NBD1849O'Brien, Digital Book

ODNBOxford University Press, Web Site

PMD Book

ref:1359Anthony Sullivan, Book

ref:616Nicholas Tracy, Book

Previous comments on this pageno comments to display

Make a comment about this page

Recent comments to other pages

Date posted	By	Page
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
Wednesday 3rd of June 2026 19:26	Jon Miller	British Sixth Rate frigate 'Seahorse' (1748) (24) 1748-1784 British 24 Gun 6th Rate Frigate

GDPR Statement