HMS Royal William (1833)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Royal William and HMS Clarence.

History
Royal Navy EnsignUnited Kingdom
NameHMS Royal William
Ordered30 December 1823
BuilderPembroke Dockyard
Laid downOctober 1825
Launched2 April 1833
FateBurnt, 1899
General characteristics [1]
Class and typeBroadened Caledonia-class ship of the line
Tons burthen2694 bm
Length205 ft 5.5 in (62.624 m) (gundeck)
Beam54 ft 6 in (16.61 m)
Depth of hold23 ft 2 in (7.06 m)
PropulsionSails
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Armament
  • 120 guns:
  • Gundeck: 30 × 32 pdrs, 2 × 68-pdr carronades
  • Middle gundeck: 34 × 32 pdrs
  • Upper gundeck: 34 × 32 pdrs
  • Quarterdeck: 2 × 18 pdrs, 14 × 32 pdr carronades
  • Forecastle: 2 × 18 pdrs, 2 × 32 pdr carronades
Painting of the first Mersey boat race between cadets of HMS Conway (on the right) and London's HMS Worcester on 11 June 1891. Clarence (ex-Royal William) is in the centre, furthest away.
Replica figurehead of the Royal William at HMNB Devonport

HMS Royal William was a 120-gun first rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 2 April 1833 at Pembroke Dock having taken eight years to build.[1] She was one of the largest ships ever built by the Royal Navy at that time, with a crew of 900 men. However, she was built during the long period of peace in Great Britain and never saw any meaningful service.

  1. ^ a b Lavery, Ships of the Line vol.1, p190.