HMS Essex (1679)

Battle of Quiberon Bay: the Day After (Richard Wright, 1760) Essex is the more distant ship on its side, to the left of HMS Resolution
History
Royal Navy EnsignEngland
NameHMS Essex
Ordered20 February 1678
BuilderSir Henry Johnson, Blackwall
Launched1679
Commissioned14 August 1679
Honours and
awards
  • Barfleur 1692
  • Vigo 1702
  • Gibraltar 1704
  • Velez-Malaga 1704
  • Passero 1718
  • Quiberon Bay 1759
FateWrecked in Quiberon Bay, 21 November 1759
General characteristics as built
Class and type70-gun third rate ship of the line
Tons burthen1,0318994 tons (bm)
Length
  • 150 ft 2 in (45.77 m) gundeck
  • 120 ft 9 in (36.80 m) keel for tonnage
Beam40 ft (12.19 m)
Draught18 ft 0 in (5.49 m)
Depth of hold16 ft 9.5 in (5.12 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 1700 rebuild
Class and type70-gun third rate ship of the line
Tons burthen1,0885294 tons (bm)
Length
  • 150 ft 4 in (45.82 m) gundeck
  • 124 ft 0 in (37.80 m) keel for tonnage
Beam40 ft 7.5 in (12.38 m)
Depth of hold16 ft 6 in (5.03 m)
PropulsionSails
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Armament
  • 1685 Establishment 70/62 guns
  • 26 × demi-cannons 54 cwt – 9.5 ft (LD)
  • 26 × demi-culverins (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 1740 rebuild
Class and type1733 proposals 70-gun third rate ship of the line
Tons burthen1225
Length
  • 151 ft (46.02 m) gundeck
  • 121 ft 10 in (37.13 m) keel for tonnage
Beam43 ft 5 in (13.23 m)
Depth of hold17 ft 9 in (5.41 m)
PropulsionSails
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Armament
  • 70 guns 1719 Establishment
  • 24 × 24-pdr guns (LD)
  • 26 × 12-pdr guns (UD)
  • 14 × 6-pdr guns (QD)
  • 4 × 6-pdr guns (Fc)
NotesBy 1746 guns reduced to 64 by removing six 6-pounder guns

HMS Essex was a 70-gun third rate built by Sir Henry Johnson of Blackwall in 1678/79. During the War of the English Succession she fought in the last major action. She was rebuilt in 1699/1700. During the War of Spanish Succession she fought at Vigo Bay, the Capture of Gibraltar and Velez Malaga. She also fought at the Battle off Passero in 1718. She was rebuilt again in 1736-40. She was in action off Toulon in 1744. She was active in the Channel and against French ports during the Seven Years War. She fought at Quiberon Bay in 1759. She was wrecked in Quiberon Bay in November 1759.

She was the second vessel to bear the name Essex since it was used for a 60-gun ship built at Deptford in 1653 and captured by the Dutch at the Battle of the Galloper Sand (the Four Days’ Battle) in June 1666.[1]

HMS Essex was awarded the Battle Honours Barfleur 1692,[2] Vigo 1702,[3] Gibraltar 1704,[4] and Velez-Malaga 1704,[5] Passero 1718,[6] and Quiberon Bay 1759.[7]

  1. ^ Colledge (2020)
  2. ^ Thomas (1998), Battle and Campaign Honours, Section B, Barfleur
  3. ^ Thomas (1998), Battle and Campaign Honours, Section V, Vigo
  4. ^ Thomas (1998), Battle and Campaign Honours, Section G, Gibraltar
  5. ^ Thomas (1998), Battle and Campaign Honours, Section V, Velez Malaga
  6. ^ Thomas (1998), Battle and Campaign Honours, Section P, Passero
  7. ^ Thomas (1998), Battle and Campaign Honours, Section Q, Quiberon Bay