British sloop 'Shark' (1732)

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Shark	6645
Nominal Guns	8	BWAS-1714
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	4.5.1732	BWAS-1714
Keel Laid Down	4.7.1732	BWAS-1714
Launched	7.9.1732	BWAS-1714
First Commissioned	31.8.1732	BWAS-1714
How acquired	Purpose built	BWAS-1714
Shipyard	Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth	BWAS-1714
Constructor	Joseph AllinBritish Ship Builder Dockyard Staff Service 1718-1746	BWAS-1714
Category	Unrated	BWAS-1714
Ship Type	Sloop	BWAS-1714
Sailing Rig	Ketch	BWAS-1714
Sold	2.12.1755	BWAS-1714

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck80' 0"Imperial Feet24.384
Length of Keel63' 0"Imperial Feet19.2024
Breadth24' 6"Imperial Feet7.3533
Depth in Hold9' 11 ¼"Imperial Feet2.7496
Burthen201 ¹³⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

1733Broadside Weight = 19 Imperial Pound ( 8.6168 kg)BWAS-1714
Gun Deck8 British 4-Pounder
Gun Deck12 British 1/2-Pound Swivel

10 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
31.8.1732 - 20.7.1739Captain and Master ADM 6/15/120BWAS-171413.6.1740 - 11.7.1740Commander ADM 6/15/298BWAS-171411.7.1740 - 21.1.1740/41Commander ADM 6/15/307BWAS-171422.1.1740/41 - 31.1.1742/43Commander ADM 6/16/372BWAS-17141.2.1742/43 - 17.7.1744Commander ADM 6/16/143BWAS-171418.7.1744 - 2.4.1745Commander ADM 6/16/342ADM 6/162.4.1745 - 30.4.1745Commander Transfered ADM 6/17/63
Issued by , The Mediterranean Sea
Confirmed 13.2.1745/46ADM 6/171.5.1745 - 22.1.1745/46Commander Transfered ADM 6/17/18
Issued by , The Mediterranean Sea
Confirmed 8.11.1745ADM 6/1729.5.1745 - 16.6.1748Commander ADM 6/16/485BWAS-171420.3.1748/49 - 2.10.1752Commander ADM 6/17/450BWAS-1714

12 Commissioned Officers

DatesRankNameSource
31.8.1732 - 19.5.1734Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/14/120ADM 6/1424.9.1732 - 18.1.1732/33Lieutenant ADM 6/14/118ADM 6/1419.1.1732/33 - bef.7.6.1733Lieutenant† Discharged Dead ADM 6/14/139ADM 6/147.6.1733 - 27.8.1733Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/14/145ADM 6/1428.8.1733 - 27.7.1738Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/15/151ADM 6/1423.7.1739 - 27.7.1739Lieutenant ADM 6/15/206ADM 6/1511.7.1740 - 3.2.1742/43Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/15/307ADM 6/158.12.1744 - 1.5.1745Lieutenant Transfered ADM 3/17/360
Issued by , The Mediterranean Sea
Confirmed 2.6.1748ADM 6/171.5.1745 - 7.6.1745Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/17/328
Issued by , The Mediterranean Sea ADM 6/177.6.1745 - 24.10.1746Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/16/490ADM 6/1624.10.1746 - 16.6.1748Lieutenant ADM 6/17/166ADM 6/1717.7.1749 - 29.1.1749/50Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/17/531
Issued by
Confirmed 30.8.1750ADM 6/17

1 Warrant Officer

DatesRankNameSource
11.4.1749 - 5.2.1751/52Midshipman Extra Transfered ADM 6/17/454ADM 6/17

Service History

DateEventSource
4.7.1732Began building at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714
7.9.1732Completed building at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth at a cost of £2887.6.10dBWAS-1714
7.9.1732Began fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714
23.9.1732Completed fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714
1733Commissioned for the BahamasBWAS-1714
20.7.1739Paid offADM 33
9.1739Began great repair at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford BWAS-1714
1740Completed great repair at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford at a cost of £2947.19.2dBWAS-1714
1741Irish SeaBWAS-1714
1743In the MediterraneanBWAS-1714
1745Coast of Scotland in the AutumnBWAS-1714
3.1.1744/45Took the Privateer
13.6.1745

Sailed from Portsmouth carrying dispatches.

ref:1025
16.8.1745

Arrived at St Helens.

ref:1025
8.10.1746Took the Privateer
16.6.1748

Paid off at Chatham Dockyard

ADM 106
5.1749Sailed for AmericaBWAS-1714
1750In the Leeward IslandsBWAS-1714
2.10.1752Paid off at Deptford Dockyard ADM 6/18
6.12.1752SurveyedBWAS-1714
1753repairs at UnknownBWAS-1714
29.10.1753SurveyedBWAS-1714
4.11.1755Ordered to be soldBWAS-1714
2.12.1755Sold at Deptford for £211BWAS-1714

Previous comments on this page

Posted by Jon Miller on Wednesday 3rd of June 2026 19:09

Barbadoes, 14 December 1749: This afternoon his Majesty’s sloop Shark, and a brigantine from Martinico, sailed for Tobago, having each of them an officer on board, charged to see that Island evacuated by the subjects of both Crowns. [Kentish Post, 17 February 1750]

Posted by Jon Miller on Tuesday 26th of May 2026 15:43

London, 20 November 1751: By the ships arrived last Monday in the Downs from Antigua, there is a confirmation of the hurricane that happened in the West Indies the 8th of September last. The Glasgow and Shark men of war were both ashore at English Harbour, but are got off. [Kentish Post, 23 November 1751]

Posted by Jon Miller on Sunday 24th of May 2026 16:52

Antigua, 21 November 1750: Extract of a letter from a gentleman to his friend at Charles-Town:
A few days ago, Commodore Holbourne, in the Tavistock, of fifty guns, sailed from Barbadoes; and yesterday Captain Falkingham, in the Shark sloop,sailed from the same place; from whence it is said they are going to the Neutral Islands, and see them evacuated, a new Governor being just arrived at Martinico, in the room of Caylus, who is empowered to oblige his countrymen to leave them. [Kentish Post, 2 March 1751]

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Shark