HMS Richmond (1757)

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

History
Great Britain
NameHMS Richmond
Ordered12 March 1756
BuilderJohn Buxton, Deptford
Laid downApril 1756
Launched12 November 1757
Completed7 December 1757 at Deptford Dockyard
CommissionedApril 1757
FateCaptured by the French Navy in Chesapeake Bay, 11 September 1781
French Navy Ensign French Navy Ensign French Navy EnsignFrance
NameRichemont
Acquired1781 by capture
FateScuttled by fire on 19 May 1793
General characteristics
Class and typeRichmond-class fifth-rate frigate
Displacement1,000 (tons; French)
Tons burthen664 16⁄94 (bm)
Length
  • 127 ft 1+1⁄2 in (38.748 m) (gundeck)
  • 107 ft 1+1⁄8 in (32.642 m) (keel)
Beam34 ft 1+3⁄4 in (10.408 m)
Depth of hold11 ft 10 in (3.61 m)
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Complement
  • British service:210 officers and men
  • French service:
  • 220 (war) & 150 (peace)
Armament
  • Upperdeck: 26 × 12-pounder guns
  • QD: 4 × 6-pounder guns
  • Fc: 2 × 6-pounder guns
An image of HMS Richmond (1757)

HMS Richmond was the name ship of the six-vessel, 32-gun Richmond-class fifth-rate frigates of the Royal Navy. She was launched in 1757 and served throughout the American Revolutionary War. She and HMS Emerald captured French brig Alexandrine in Chesapeake Bay off the mouth of the Rappahannock River 3 January, 1778.[1] She captured 1 prize off Cape Charles in February, 1778.[2] On 5 February a sloop ran aground off Cherry Point while being pursued by Richmond and HMS Solebay and was burned.[3] On 9 February Richmond and HMS Solebay captured Maryland State Govt. trading vessel Lydia off St. Mary's River, later ruled a recapture.[4] On 28 February she captured Danish flagged, American owned ship Good Hope off Cape Henry.[5] She was captured by the French 74-gun Bourgogne and the frigate Aigrette on 11 September 1781 in the Chesapeake. She then served as Richemont under Lieutenant Mortemart.[6]

On 12 April 1782 she fought at the Battle of the Saintes and famously tried to tow Glorieux to safety.[7] A painting of the attempt was made later, and was on display at the Ministry of the Navy in the 1930.[8]

  1. ^ "Naval Documents of The American Revolution Volume 11 AMERICAN THEATRE: Jan. 1, 1778–Mar. 31, 1778 EUROPEAN THEATRE: Jan. 1, 1778–Mar. 31, 1778" (PDF). U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  2. ^ "The Maritime War: The Revolutionary War in Princess Anne County" (PDF). vbgov.com. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  3. ^ "Naval Documents of The American Revolution Volume 11 European THEATRE: Jan. 1, 1778–Mar. 31, 1778 American: Jan. 1, 1778–Mar. 31, 1778" (PDF). U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  4. ^ "Naval Documents of The American Revolution Volume 11 European THEATRE: Jan. 1, 1778–Mar. 31, 1778 American: Jan. 1, 1778–Mar. 31, 1778" (PDF). U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  5. ^ "Naval Documents of The American Revolution Volume 11 European THEATRE: Jan. 1, 1778–Mar. 31, 1778 American: Jan. 1, 1778–Mar. 31, 1778" (PDF). U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  6. ^ Roche (2005), p. 383.
  7. ^ Fraser (2009), p. 137-38.
  8. ^ Contenson (1934), p. 233.