HMS Zealous (1785)

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

Zealous
History
Great Britain
NameHMS Zealous
Ordered19 June 1782
BuilderBarnard, Deptford
Laid downDecember 1782
Launched25 June 1785
FateBroken up, December 1816
Notes
General characteristics [1]
Class and typeArrogant-class ship of the line
Tons burthen1607 (bm)
Length168 ft (51 m) (gundeck)
Beam46 ft 9 in (14.25 m)
Depth of hold19 ft 9 in (6.02 m)
PropulsionSails
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Armament
  • Gundeck: 28 × 32-pounder guns
  • Upper gundeck: 28 × 18-pounder guns
  • Quarterdeck: 14 × 9-pounder guns
  • Forecastle: 4 × 9-pounder guns

HMS Zealous was a 74-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built by Barnard of Deptford and launched on 25 June 1785.[1]

She served in a number of battles of the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars, notably the Battle of the Nile, where she engaged the French ship Guerrier, helping to force her surrender. She was later cruising off Cadiz in 1801. She missed out on the Battle of Trafalgar, having been dispatched to Gibraltar for resupply.

Zealous at the Battle of the Nile in 1798

After Trafalgar, Zealous continued in the blockade of Cadiz. On 25 November 1805, Thunderer detained the Ragusan ship Nemesis, which was sailing from Isle de France to Leghorn, Italy, with a cargo of spice, indigo dye, and other goods.[2] Zealous shared the prize money with ten other British warships.[3]

Zealous was later assigned to convoy duty in the Mediterranean.[citation needed]

Formal dining china from HMS Zealous
  1. ^ a b Lavery, Ships of the Line, vol. 1, p. 180.
  2. ^ "No. 15885". The London Gazette. 28 January 1806. p. 129.
  3. ^ "No. 16364". The London Gazette. 24 April 1810. p. 617.