British Sixth Rate ship 'Surprise' (1746)

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Surprise	6687
Nominal Guns	24
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	11.8.1744
Keel Laid Down	9.1745
Launched	27.1.1745/46
How acquired	Purpose built
Shipyard	Buckler's Hard - Hampshire
Ship Class	1741 Establishment 20-Gunner (1741)
Designed by	Jacob AckworthBritish Naval Sailor Designer Ship Builder Dockyard Staff Service 1690-1744
Constructor	James Wyatt & Co.British Ship Builder
Category	Sixth Rate
Ship Type	Ship
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged
Sold	17.7.1770

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck112' 6"Imperial Feet34.1503
Length of Keel91' 10"Imperial Feet27.7368
Breadth32' 3"Imperial Feet9.7917
Depth in Hold11' 1"Imperial Feet3.3782
Burthen508 ⁴⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

27.1.1745/46Broadside 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

8 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
22.1.1745/46 - 12.6.1746Captain Transfered ADM 6/17/47ADM 6/1725.6.1746 - 3.2.1748/49Captain ADM 6/17/120BWAS-17142.6.1749 - 5.6.1755Captain Transfered ADM 6/17/468BWAS-17145.2.1756 - 17.2.1758Captain Transfered ADM 6/18/233BWAS-171417.2.1758 - 11.12.1759Captain Transfered ADM 6/18/487BWAS-171411.12.1759 - 2.6.1763Captain ADM 6/19/118BWAS-171420.6.1765 - 25.8.1766Captain Transfered ADM 6/20/78ADM 6/2026.5.1768Captain Discharged ADM 6/20/203ADM 6/20

2 Commissioned Officers

DatesRankNameSource
23.1.1745/46 - 21.3.1745/46Lieutenant ADM 6/17/47ADM 6/1721.8.1751 - 6.2.1756Lieutenant ADM 6/18/11ADM 6/18

2 Petty Officers

DatesRatingNameSource
16.11.1748 - 19.4.1749Midshipman Transfered ADM 107/4/401ADM 107/42.6.1749 - 14.2.1749/50Midshipman Ordinary Transfered ADM 107/4/265ADM 107/4

5 Crewmen

DatesRatingNameSource
18.9.1746 - 15.11.1748Able Seaman ADM 107/4/401ADM 107/430.3.1747 - 26.5.1748Able Seaman Transfered ADM 107/4/343ADM 107/428.1.1748/49 - 13.5.1749Able Seaman Transfered ADM 107/4/305ADM 107/428.2.1756 - 4.11.1756Captain's Servant ADM 107/5/424ADM 107/55.11.1756 - 1.4.1758Ordinary Seaman Transfered ADM 107/5/424ADM 107/5

Service History

DateEventSource
27.1.1745/46building at Buckler's Hard - Hampshire at a cost of £3984.0.0dBWAS-1714
10.2.1745/46Began fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714
22.3.1745/46Completed fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth at a cost of £3195.7.7dBWAS-1714
28.5.1746Took the Privateer
19.11.1746Took the Privateer and carried into the Downs .BG
23.1.1747Took the Corvette into the Bay of BiscayBG
30.5.1747Took the Privateer
3.2.1749Paid offADM 51
6.1749RecommissionedBWAS-1714
1750Off the coast of AfricaBWAS-1714
1751Off the coast of AfricaBWAS-1714
1752In the ChannelBWAS-1714
1753In the ChannelBWAS-1714
5.9.1754Paid offBWAS-1714
8.3.1755SurveyedBWAS-1714
7.1755Began middling repair at Sheerness Dockyard - Sheerness BWAS-1714
5.2.1756RecommissionedBWAS-1714
4.1756Completed middling repair at Sheerness Dockyard - Sheerness at a cost of £4161.6.8dBWAS-1714
22.6.1756Sailed for the Leeward IslandsBWAS-1714
20.1.1757Took the Privateer
23.3.1759Sailed with a convoy for South CarolinaBWAS-1714
16.4.1759Took the Privateer off Dunkirk
1761Off the Portugese coastBWAS-1714
1762Off the Portugese coastBWAS-1714
1763Off the Portugese coastBWAS-1714
2.6.1763

Paid off

BWAS-1714
27.8.1763SurveyedBWAS-1714
31.1.1770SurveyedBWAS-1714
13.6.1770SurveyedBWAS-1714
14.6.1770Ordered to be soldBWAS-1714
17.7.1770Sold at Deptford for £440BWAS-1714

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

ADM 107/4 Archive

ADM 107/5 Archive

ADM 51 Archive

ADM 6/17 Archive

ADM 6/18 Archive

ADM 6/20 Archive

BGOfficial, Web Site

BWAS-1714Rif Winfield, Book

Previous comments on this page

Posted by Jon Miller on Wednesday 27th of May 2026 18:51

London, 29 February 1752: Some of his Majesty’s subjects, on board the ship, King of Prussia, which arrived in the Downs, on the 12th Instant from Embden, having applied to his Majesty’s officers, that they might be released, alledging, that they were detained contrary to their will, Captain Baird, of his Majesty’ ship the Surprize, did, pursuant to the general instructions relating to His Majesty’s Service at Sea, immediately demand them, and they were given up. [Kentish Post, 4 March 1752]

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