French ship Hector (1755)

History
France
Name	Hector
Ordered	2 July 1751 [1]
Builder	Toulon [1] >
Laid down	23 July 1752 [1]
Launched	23 July 1755 [1]
In service	June 1756 [1]
Stricken	3 October 1782 [1]
Captured	April 1782
Great Britain
Name	Hector
Acquired	April 1782 by capture
Fate	Damaged in battle September 1782. Sunk October 1782.
General characteristics
Class and type	Hector-class ship of the line
Displacement	1,450 tonnes
Length	53.3 m (175 ft)
Beam	14 m (46 ft)
Draught	7.1 m (23 ft)
Propulsion	Sail
Armament	74 guns
Armour	Timber

Hector was a 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy, lead ship of her class. Hector was launched in 1755 and fought in the American Revolutionary War during which she captured two ships of the British Royal Navy on 14 August 1778. In 1782, the ship was captured by the Royal Navy at the Battle of the Saintes in 1782. Taken into service by the Royal Navy, the vessel was renamed HMS Hector. On 5 September 1782. HMS Hector fought two French frigates. Severely damaged during the battle, and by a hurricane that followed later in September, Hector sank on 4 October 1782.