British Fourth Rate ship of the line 'Cato' (1782)

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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)
Devastation (6) 1841-1866
British 6 Gun
Unrated Steam Sloop
(1841)
Zephyr (8) 1790-1798
British 8 Gun
Merchant East Indiaman
(1790)
Pembroke (60) 1733-1749
British 60 Gun
4th Rate Ship of the Line
(1733)
Mercury (20) 1745-1753
British 20 Gun
6th Rate Ship
(1745)
Seahorse (24) 1748-1784
British 24 Gun
6th Rate Frigate
(1748)
Charles PowlettBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1728-1749
Namur (74) 1746-1749
British 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
(1746)
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3rd Rate Ship of the Line
(1746)
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Cato
Nominal Guns	50	BWAS-1714
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	17.2.1780	BWAS-1714
Keel Laid Down	6.1780	BWAS-1714
Launched	29.5.1782	BWAS-1714
How acquired	Purpose built	BWAS-1714
Shipyard	Gravesend - Kent	BWAS-1714
Ship Class	Grampus Class (1780)	BWAS-1714
Designed by	Edward HuntBritish Ship Builder Administrator Dockyard Staff Service 1757-1809	BWAS-1714
Constructor	William CleverleyBritish Ship Builder Service 1800	BWAS-1714
Category	Fourth Rate	BWAS-1714
Ship Type	Ship of the Line	BWAS-1714
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	BWAS-1714
Foundered	1.1783	BWAS-1714

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck150' 0"Imperial Feet45.72
Length of Keel123' 9 ½"Imperial Feet37.5031
Breadth40' 6"Imperial Feet12.3444
Depth in Hold17' 9""Imperial Feet5.1816
Burthen1,080 ⁶³⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

29.5.1782Broadside 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

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
2.1780350Design Complement

2 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
8.7.1782 - 9.7.1782Captain ADM 6/22/493ADM 6/229.7.1782 - 1.1783Captain ADM 6/22/493BWAS-1714

1 Flag Officer

DatesRankNameSource
5.1782 - 1.1783Vice-Admiral of the Blue†BWAS-1714

Service History

DateEventSource
29.5.1782building at Gravesend - Kent at a cost of £17322.12.2dBWAS-1714
1.6.1782Began fitting at Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich BWAS-1714
10.8.1782Completed fitting at Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich at a cost of £10714.6.1dBWAS-1714
13.10.1782

Sailed for the East Indies

BWAS-1714
27.10.1782

At Madeira

ref:676
12.12.1782

Sailed from Rio de Janeiro

BWAS-1714
1.1783

Lost with all hands, probably in the Indian Ocean

BWAS-1714

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

ADM 6/22 Archive

BWAS-1714Rif Winfield, Book

ref:676 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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