HMS Goliath (1842)

The Duchess of Buccleuch launches the Goliath
History
Royal Navy EnsignUnited Kingdom
NameHMS Goliath
Ordered7 October 1833
BuilderChatham Dockyard
Laid downFebruary 1834
Launched25 July 1842
FateBurnt, 22 December 1875
General characteristics [1]
Class and typeVanguard-class ship of the line
Tons burthen2596 bm
Length190 ft (58 m) (gundeck)
Beam56 ft 9 in (17.30 m)
Depth of hold22 ft 6 in (6.86 m)
PropulsionSails
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Armament
  • 78 guns:
  • Gundeck: 26 × 32 pdrs, 2 × 68 pdr carronades
  • Upper gundeck: 26 × 32 pdrs, 2 × 68 pdr carronades
  • Quarterdeck: 14 × 32 pdrs
  • Forecastle: 2 × 32 pdrs, 2 × 32 pdr carronades
  • Poop deck: 4 × 18 pdr carronades
Launch of the Goliath (far right) and the Virago at Chatham Dockyard

HMS Goliath was an 80-gun two-deck second rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 25 July 1842 at Chatham Dockyard.[1]

Goliath was fitted with screw propulsion in 1857.[1] In 1870, she was converted into a pauper training ship for workhouse boys.

Burning of the Training-Ship Goliath, The Illustrated London News, 1876

Goliath was destroyed by fire on 22 December 1875 while at anchor in the River Thames near Grays.[2] Of the approximately 500 on board, 23 boys were killed.[citation needed]

The burning. The Graphic 1876
  1. ^ a b c Lavery, Ships of the Line vol.1, p191.
  2. ^ The Times (London), Thursday, 23 December 1875, p.5