HMS Alexander (1778)
 Launch of HMS Alexander at Deptford in 1778 (BHC1875), by John Cleveley the Younger (NMM) - HMS Alexander is the ship still on the slipway, centre background |
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| Career (Great Britain) |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | HMS Alexander |
| Ordered: | 21 July 1773 |
| Builder: | Deptford Dockyard |
| Laid down: | 6 April 1774 |
| Launched: | 8 October 1778 |
| Captured: | 6 November 1794, by French Navy |
| Career (France) |  |
| Name: | Alexandre |
| Acquired: | 6 November 1794 |
| Captured: | 22 June 1795, by Royal Navy |
| Career (UK) |  |
| Name: | HMS Alexander |
| Acquired: | 22 June 1795 |
| Honours and awards: |
Participated in: |
| Fate: | Broken up, 1819 |
| General characteristics [1] | |
| Class and type: | Alfred-class ship of the line |
| Tons burthen: | 1621 tons (1647 tonnes) |
| Length: | 169 ft (52 m) (gundeck) |
| Beam: | 47 ft 2 in (14.4 m) |
| Depth of hold: | 20 ft (6.1 m) |
| Propulsion: | Sails |
| Sail plan: | Full rigged ship |
| Armament: |
74 guns:
|
HMS Alexander was a 74-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched from Deptford on 8 October 1778.[1] During her career she was captured by the French, and later recaptured by the British. She fought at the Nile in 1798, and was broken up in 1819. She was named for Alexander the Great.
Whilst returning to England from Spain on 6 November 1794, Alexander fell in with a French squadron of five 74-gun ships, and three frigates, led by Joseph-Marie Nielly. In the ensuing action Alexander was overrun by the Droits de l'Homme, but escaped when she damaged the Droits de l'Homme's rigging. Alexander was then caught by Marat came behind her stern and raked her. Then, the 74 gun third-rate Jean Bart closed in and fired broadsides at close range, forcing the Alexander to surrender. She was taken into the French Navy, and renamed Alexandre. On 22 June 1795, she was with a French fleet off Belle ÃŽle when the Channel Fleet under Lord Bridport discovered them. The British ships chased the French fleet, and Alexander was retaken into the service.[citation needed]
Alexander took part in the Battle of the Nile in 1798, captained by Alexander Ball. The ship was the second ship to fire upon the French fleet, namely its flagship, L'Orient. The Alexander sank three French ships, before retreating to the rear of the battle, due to a small fire on-board. The Alexander was one of the only ships not carrying a soldier battalion.[citation needed]
From 1803 she was out of commission in Plymouth, and was finally broken up in 1819.[1]
- Colledge, J. J. and Warlow, Ben (2006). Ships of the Royal Navy: the complete record of all fighting ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed. ed.). London: Chatham. ISBN 9781861762818. OCLC 67375475.
- Michael Phillips. Alexander (74) (1778). Michael Phillips' Ships of the Old Navy. Retrieved 11 March 2007.
- Lavery, Brian (2003) The Ship of the Line - Volume 1: The development of the battlefleet 1650-1850. Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-252-8.
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