HMS Terrible (1747)
Encyclopedia
HMS Terrible was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line
of the Royal Navy
. She had previously served in the French Navy
under the same name.
in November 1736 to a design by François Coulomb. Launched on 19 December 1739, she was completed the following year. She served with the French fleet at the Second Battle of Cape Finisterre
, on 25 October 1747, and was one of the French ships captured by the British fleet, under Admiral Sir Edward Hawke
.
and surveyed there in June 1748. The Navy Board
authorised her purchase on 30 September 1748, paying a total of £11,211.11.0d, once a sum had been abated for repairs. A small repair was carried out at Portsmouth for £7,024.18.6d between April and August 1750, and she was fitted out for service in 1753. She was commissioned in May that year as the Portsmouth guardship, under the command of Captain Robert Pett. She passed to Captain Philip Durell
in March 1755, and later was under Captain William Holborne
, while serving as the flagship
of Rear-Admiral Francis Holburne
. Terrible was sent as a reinforcement for Vice-Admiral Edward Boscawen
in May 1755, and was despatched again in April 1756, this time to reinforce Vice-Admiral Edward Hawke. Captain Richard Collins took command of her later in 1756, and in the summer of that year Terrible went out to join Boscawen's fleet.
She went out to North America in April 1757, and was present at the Siege of Louisbourg
in 1758. She returned to North America in early 1759, being at the assault on
Quebec
in 1759. She returned to Britain after this, and was surveyed on 1 April 1760. An admiralty order was issued on 31 December 1762, instructing her to be broken up. She was broken up at Chatham
, a process completed by 16 February 1763.
Ship of the line
A ship of the line was a type of naval warship constructed from the 17th through the mid-19th century to take part in the naval tactic known as the line of battle, in which two columns of opposing warships would manoeuvre to bring the greatest weight of broadside guns to bear...
of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. She had previously served in the French Navy
French Navy
The French Navy, officially the Marine nationale and often called La Royale is the maritime arm of the French military. It includes a full range of fighting vessels, from patrol boats to a nuclear powered aircraft carrier and 10 nuclear-powered submarines, four of which are capable of launching...
under the same name.
French career and capture
Terrible was laid down at ToulonToulon
Toulon is a town in southern France and a large military harbor on the Mediterranean coast, with a major French naval base. Located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur region, Toulon is the capital of the Var department in the former province of Provence....
in November 1736 to a design by François Coulomb. Launched on 19 December 1739, she was completed the following year. She served with the French fleet at the Second Battle of Cape Finisterre
Second battle of Cape Finisterre (1747)
The Second Battle of Cape Finisterre was a naval battle which took place on 25 October 1747 during the War of the Austrian Succession...
, on 25 October 1747, and was one of the French ships captured by the British fleet, under Admiral Sir Edward Hawke
Edward Hawke, 1st Baron Hawke
Admiral of the Fleet Edward Hawke, 1st Baron Hawke KB, PC was an officer of the Royal Navy. He is best remembered for his service during the Seven Years' War, particularly his victory over a French fleet at the Battle of Quiberon Bay in 1759, preventing a French invasion of Britain...
.
British career
Terrible was brought into PortsmouthPortsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
and surveyed there in June 1748. The Navy Board
Navy Board
The Navy Board is today the body responsible for the day-to-day running of the British Royal Navy. Its composition is identical to that of the Admiralty Board of the Defence Council of the United Kingdom, except that it does not include any of Her Majesty's Ministers.From 1546 to 1831, the Navy...
authorised her purchase on 30 September 1748, paying a total of £11,211.11.0d, once a sum had been abated for repairs. A small repair was carried out at Portsmouth for £7,024.18.6d between April and August 1750, and she was fitted out for service in 1753. She was commissioned in May that year as the Portsmouth guardship, under the command of Captain Robert Pett. She passed to Captain Philip Durell
Philip Durell
Vice-Admiral Philip Durell was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Port Admiral at Plymouth.-Naval career:Durell joined the Royal Navy as an ordinary seaman in 1721. In 1742 he was appointed Post Captain on HMS Eltham and sailed to the West Indies. In 1745 he took part in the successful Siege...
in March 1755, and later was under Captain William Holborne
William Holborne
William Holburne was an officer of the Royal Navy.William was the brother of Francis Holburne, a naval officer who rose to flag rank...
, while serving as the flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
of Rear-Admiral Francis Holburne
Francis Holburne
Admiral Sir Francis Holburne was a Royal Navy officer who also served as a Member of Parliament.-Naval career:Francis entered the Navy in 1720 as a volunteer aboard , passing his examinations in 1725...
. Terrible was sent as a reinforcement for Vice-Admiral Edward Boscawen
Edward Boscawen
Admiral Edward Boscawen, PC was an Admiral in the Royal Navy and Member of Parliament for the borough of Truro, Cornwall. He is known principally for his various naval commands throughout the 18th Century and the engagements that he won, including the Siege of Louisburg in 1758 and Battle of Lagos...
in May 1755, and was despatched again in April 1756, this time to reinforce Vice-Admiral Edward Hawke. Captain Richard Collins took command of her later in 1756, and in the summer of that year Terrible went out to join Boscawen's fleet.
She went out to North America in April 1757, and was present at the Siege of Louisbourg
Siege of Louisbourg (1758)
The Siege of Louisbourg was a pivotal battle of the Seven Years' War in 1758 which ended the French colonial era in Atlantic Canada and led directly to the loss of Quebec in 1759 and the remainder of French North America the following year.-Background:The British government realized that with the...
in 1758. She returned to North America in early 1759, being at the assault on
Battle of the Plains of Abraham
The Battle of the Plains of Abraham, also known as the Battle of Quebec, was a pivotal battle in the Seven Years' War...
Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
in 1759. She returned to Britain after this, and was surveyed on 1 April 1760. An admiralty order was issued on 31 December 1762, instructing her to be broken up. She was broken up at Chatham
Chatham Dockyard
Chatham Dockyard, located on the River Medway and of which two-thirds is in Gillingham and one third in Chatham, Kent, England, came into existence at the time when, following the Reformation, relations with the Catholic countries of Europe had worsened, leading to a requirement for additional...
, a process completed by 16 February 1763.