HMS Burford (1679)

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

History
Royal Navy EnsignKingdom of England
NameHMS Burford
NamesakeCharles Beauclerk, Duke of Burford
OrderedApril 1677
BuilderPhineas Pett (completed by Thomas Shish), Woolwich Dockyard
LaunchedNovember 1679
Commissioned15 December 1679
In service1679–1719
Honours and
awards
  • Barfleur 1692
  • Gibraltar 1704
  • Velez-Malaga 1704
  • Passaro 1718
FateWrecked, 14 February 1719
General characteristics as built
Class and type70-gun third rate ship of the line
Tons burthen1,05132⁄94 (bm)
Length
  • 152 ft 4 in (46.43 m) gundeck
  • 121 ft 6 in (37.03 m) keel for tonnage
Beam40 ft 4 in (12.29 m)
Draught18 ft 0 in (5.49 m)
Depth of hold17 ft 3 in (5.26 m)
PropulsionSails
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Armament
  • 1677 Establishment 72/60 guns
  • 26 × demi-cannons (54 cwt – 9.5 ft (LD)
  • 26 × 12-pdr guns 32 cwt – 9 ft (UD)
  • 10 × sakers 16 cwt – 7 ft (QD)
  • 4 × sakers 16 cwt – 7 ft (Fc)
  • 5 × 5 3-pdr guns 5 cwt – 5 ft (RH)
General characteristics after 1699 rebuild
Class and type70-gun third rate ship of the line
Tons burthen1,11325⁄94 (bm)
Length
  • 152 ft 4 in (46.4 m) (gun deck)
  • 126 ft 2 in (38.5 m) (keel)
Beam40 ft 8+3⁄4 in (12.4 m)
Depth of hold16 ft 4+1⁄4 in (5.0 m)
PropulsionSails
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Armament
  • 70 (war) 62 (peace) (by 1703 Gun Establishment)
  • Lower deck: 24/22 × 24-pounder
  • Upper deck: 26/24 × 9-pounder
  • Quarterdeck: 12/10 × 6-pounder
  • Forecastle: 4/2 × 6-pounder
  • Roundhouse: 4 × 4-pounder

HMS Burford was a 70-gun third rate ship of the line built at Woolwich Dockyard in 1677/79 as part of the Thirty Ships Programme of 1677.[1] She fought in the War of the English Succession, including the Battle of Barfleur, before being rebuilt at Deptford in 1699, remaining as a 70-gun third rate.[2] During the War of Spanish Succession she was mostly in the Mediterranean fleet and fought at the capture of Gibraltar and the Battle of Málaga in 1704 before being extensively repaired between 1710 and 1712 at Portsmouth Dockyard. Burford served in the Baltic in 1715 and 1717 before returning to the Mediterranean to fight the Spanish at the Battle of Cape Passaro in 1718. She was wrecked on the Italian coast in a storm on 14 February 1719.[2]

She was named in honour of Charles II illegitimate son, Charles Beauclerk, his son with Nell Gwynn. Charles Beauclerk was made the Duke of Burford in 1676.[3] This was the first vessel to bear the name Burford in the English and Royal Navy.[4]

HMS Burford was awarded the Battle Honour Barfleur 1692, Gibraltar 1704, and Velez-Malaga 1704, Passaro 1718.[5]

  1. ^ Lavery, The Ship of the Line vol 1, p. 162
  2. ^ a b Lavery, The Ship of the Line vol 1, p. 166.
  3. ^ Winfield (2009), Chapter 3, Vessels Acquired from 2 May 1660, 1677 Programme, First Batch (1677 Orders)
  4. ^ Colledge (2020)
  5. ^ Warlow, Battle Honours of the Royal Navy, page 83