French ship Guillaume Tell (1795)
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 Capture of the William Tell, by Robert Dodd |
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| Career (France) |  |
|---|---|
| Launched: | 1795 |
| Honours and awards: |
Participated in: |
| Captured: | 30 March 1800 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 1800 tonnes |
| Length: | 59.3 metres |
| Beam: | 15.3 metres |
| Draught: | 7.8 metres |
| Propulsion: | Sail |
| Armament: |
80 guns |
| Armour: | Timber |
Guillaume Tell was a 80-gun Tonnant class ship of the line of the French Navy She was named for William Tell. She fought at the Battle of the Nile and was one of only two French ships to escape the fleet's destruction there.
After the Battle of the Nile, Rear-Admiral Denis Decrès set his mark on the Guillaume Tell and led the remains of the French fleet to Malta.
On 30 March 1800, at 11 PM, the Guillaume Tell, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Decrès and commanded by Captain Saulnier, left Malta harbour and set sail for Toulon. She was discovered at 11:55 AM and engaged at 12:30 AM by part of the squadron blockading Malta, formed by the 64 gun ship Lion, the 36 gun frigate Penelope, the 80 gun ship Foudroyant, and the brig Vincego (Captain George Long). Battle followed, and after 9 hours, Guillaume Tell, her masts down, half her artillery out of order and with 200 killed and wounded, struck her colours.
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