HMS Grafton (1679)

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

History
Royal Navy EnsignEngland
NameHMS Grafton
OrderedApril 1677
BuilderWoolwich Dockyard
Launched17 May 1679
Commissioned16 July 1679
Honours and
awards
  • Barfleur 1692
  • Vigo 1704
  • Gibraltar 1704
  • Velez-Malaga 1704
Captured2 May 1707 by French
FateLe Grafton in French Navy, broken 1744
General characteristics as built
Class and type70-gun third rate ship of the line
Tons burthen1,05274⁄94 tons (bm)
Length
  • 150 ft 0 in (45.72 m) gundeck
  • 120 ft 8 in (36.78 m) keel for tonnage
Beam40 ft 5 in (12.32 m)
Draught18 ft 0 in (5.49 m)
Depth of hold17 ft 2 in (5.23 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 1700 rebuild[1]
Class and type70-gun third rate ship of the line
Tons burthen1,10342⁄94 tons (bm)
Length
  • 150 ft 8.5 in (45.94 m) gundeck
  • 124 ft 5 in (37.92 m) Keel for tonnage
Beam40 ft 10 in (12.45 m)
Depth of hold16 ft 8 in (5.08 m)
PropulsionSails
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Armament
  • 1685 Establishment 72/60 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)

HMS Grafton was a 70-gun third rate built at Woolwich Dockyard in 1677/79. She was delivered to Chatham and placed in Ordinary in 1679. She was commissioned in 1683 to participate in the evacuation of Tangier, Morocco. She served during the War of the English Succession fighting in the Battles of Beachy Head and Barfleur. She was rebuilt in 1699/1701. She was in active commission during the War of Spanish Succession. She fought in the Battle of Vigo, the capture of Gibraltar and the Battle of Velez Malaga. She was taken by the French in 1707 and incorporated into the French Navy. Finally, being broken at Brest in 1744.

She was named in honour of Charles II illegitimate son, Henry Fitzroy, one of his sons with Barbara Palmer (Duchess of Cleveland). Henry Fitzroy was made the Duke of Grafton in 1675.[2] She was the first vessel to bear the name Grafton in the English and Royal Navy.[3]

HMS Grafton was awarded the Battle Honours Barfleur 1692[4] Vigo 1702,[5] Gibraltar 1704,[6] and Velez-Malaga 1704.[7]

  1. ^ Lavery, Ships of the Line vol.1, p166
  2. ^ Winfield 2009, Chapter 3, Middling Ships, Vessels Acquired from 2 May 1660, 1677 Programme, First Batch (1677 Orders)
  3. ^ Colledge (2020)
  4. ^ Thomas (1998), Battle and Campaign Honours, Section B, Barfleur
  5. ^ Thomas (1998), Battle and Campaign Honours, Section V, Vigo
  6. ^ Thomas (1998), Battle and Campaign Honours, Section G, Gibraltar
  7. ^ Thomas (1998), Battle and Campaign Honours, Section V, Velez Malaga