HMS Defiance (1675)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Defiance.

History
Royal Navy EnsignGreat Britain
NameHMS Defiance
BuilderPhineas Pett II, Chatham Dockyard
Launched1675
FateBroken up, 1749
General characteristics as built[1]
Class and type64-gun third rate ship of the line
Tons burthen890 tons
Length117 ft (36 m) (keel)
Beam37 ft 10 in (11.53 m)
Depth of hold15 ft 10 in (4.83 m)
PropulsionSails
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Armament64 guns of various weights of shot
General characteristics after 1695 rebuild[2]
Class and type64-gun third rate ship of the line
Tons burthen902 tons
Length143 ft 10 in (43.84 m) (gundeck)
Beam37 ft 11 in (11.56 m)
Depth of hold15 ft 8 in (4.78 m)
PropulsionSails
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Armament64 guns of various weights of shot
General characteristics after 1707 rebuild[3]
Class and type66-gun third rate ship of the line
Tons burthen949 tons
Length146 ft 3+1⁄2 in (44.6 m) (gundeck)
Beam38 ft 6 in (11.73 m)
Depth of hold15 ft 9+1⁄2 in (4.8 m)
PropulsionSails
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Armament66 guns of various weights of shot

HMS Defiance was a 64-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built by Phineas Pett II at Chatham Dockyard, and launched in 1675.[1]

In the summer of 1678, Defiance was under the command of John Ernle.[4][5]

She was rebuilt at Woolwich Dockyard in 1695, again as a 64-gun ship.[2]

Defiance was part of a squadron under Vice-Admiral John Benbow in August 1702. In an action between Benbow's squadron and the squadron of the French Admiral Jean du Casse, Defiance under Captain Richard Kirkby was one of the ships that refused to engage. Along with Windsor, Defiance bore away from the French squadron after only two or three broadsides, and stood out of range. At his court-martial, Captain Kirkby was convicted of cowardice and sentenced to be shot.[6]

In 1707, she was rebuilt for a second time, relaunching from Deptford Dockyard as a 66-gun third rate.[3]

Defiance was reduced to a fourth rate in 1716.

On 30 August 1739, command of her was given to Captain John Trevor.[7]

She was hulked in 1743 and was broken up in 1749.[3][8]

  1. ^ a b Lavery, Ships of the Line vol.1, p161.
  2. ^ a b Lavery, Ships of the Line vol.1, p165.
  3. ^ a b c Lavery, Ships of the Line vol.1, p167.
  4. ^ Thomas Baker, Piracy and diplomacy in seventeenth-century North Africa: the journal of Thomas Baker, ed. C. R. Pennell (1989), pp. 84, 94, 99
  5. ^ Henry Teonge, The Diary of Henry Teonge: Chaplain on Board HM's Ships Assistance, Bristol and Royal Oak 1675-1679 (1927 edition) p. 252
  6. ^ Ships of the Old Navy, Breda (1692)
  7. ^ 'Office of the Lord High Admiral to Captain John Trevor', 30 August 1739, ADM 7/781, The National Archives at Kew
  8. ^ Ships of the Old Navy, Defiance (1675)