HMS Anson (1781)

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

HMS Anson, a detail from a painting by Thomas Luny
History
Great Britain
NameHMS Anson
Ordered24 April 1773
BuilderPlymouth Dockyard
Laid downJanuary 1774
Launched4 September 1781
Honours and
awards
FateWrecked, 29 December 1807
General characteristics [1]
Class and typeIntrepid-class ship of the line
Tons burthen1369 bm
Length159 ft 6 in (48.62 m) (gundeck)
Beam44 ft 4 in (13.51 m)
Depth of hold19 ft (5.8 m)
PropulsionSails
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Armament
  • 64 guns:
    • Gundeck:
      • 26 × 24-pounder guns
    • Upper gundeck:
      • 26 × 18-pounder guns
    • QD:
      • 10 × 4-pounder guns
    • Fc:
      • 2 × 9-pounder guns
  • 44 guns:
    • Gundeck:
      • 26 × 24-pounder guns
    • QD:
    • Fc:
      • 2 × 12-pounder guns
      • 2 × 42-pounder carronades

HMS Anson was a ship of the Royal Navy, launched at Plymouth on 4 September 1781.[1] Originally a 64-gun third rate ship of the line, she fought at the Battle of the Saintes.

In 1794 she was razeed to produce a frigate of 44 guns (fifth rate). Stronger than the average frigate of the time, the razee frigate Anson subsequently had a successful career during the French Revolutionary Wars and Napoleonic Wars, mostly operating against privateers, but also in small actions against enemy frigates.

Anson was wrecked on 29 December 1807. Trapped by a lee shore off Loe Bar, Cornwall, England, she hit the rocks and between 60 and 190 men were killed. The subsequent treatment of the recovered bodies of drowned seamen caused controversy, and led to the Burial of Drowned Persons Act 1808.

  1. ^ a b Lavery, Ships of the Line, vol. 1, p. 181.