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HMS President (1650)

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For other ships with the same name, see HMS President.
For other ships with the same name, see HMS Bonaventure.

History
Commonwealth Navy EnsignCommonwealth of England
NamePresident
OrderedApril 1649
BuilderDeptford Dockyard
Launched9 April 1650
Commissioned1650
Honours and
awards
  • Dover 1652
  • Kentish Knock 1652
  • Portland 1653
  • Gabbard 1653
  • Scheveningen 1653
Royal Navy EnsignEngland
NamePresident
AcquiredMay 1660
RenamedBonaventure in 1660
Honours and
awards
  • Lowestoffe 1665
  • Four Days' Battle 1666
  • Oxfordness 1666
  • Solebay 1672
  • Scooneveld 1673
  • Texel 1673
  • Beachy Head 1690
  • Barfleur 1693
Great Britain
NameBonaventure
Acquired1707 Act of Union
FateBroken at Chatham to build a new ship
General characteristics
Class and type34-gun Fourth-Rate
Tons burthen462+84⁄94 bm
Length
  • 124 ft 0 in (37.8 m) gundeck
  • 100 ft 0 in (30.5 m) keel for tonnage
Beam29 ft 6 in (9.0 m)
Depth of hold14 ft 6 in (4.4 m)
Sail planship-rigged
Complement180 men in 1653
Armament
  • at launch
  • 34 guns
  • 1666 Establishment
  • 38 guns
General characteristics after 1663 rebuild
Class and type48-gun fourth-rate ship
Tons burthen514 tons bm
Length
  • 124 ft 10 in (38.0 m) gundeck
  • 102 ft 9 in (31.3 m) keel for tonnage
Beam30 ft 8 in (9.3 m)
Depth of hold12 ft 4 in (3.8 m)
Sail planship-rigged
Complement180 men in 1666
Armament
  • 48/42 guns in 1666
  • 22 × culverins on wooden trucks (LD)
  • 16 × demi-culverins on wooden trucks (UD)
  • 10 × sakers on wooden trucks (QD)
  • 48 guns in 1677
  • 22 × culverins on wooden trucks (LD)
  • 20 × 8-pdr sakers on wooden trucks (UD)
  • 6 × sakers on wooden trucks (QD)
General characteristics after 1699 rebuild
Class and type50-gun fourth-rate ship
Tons burthen596+24⁄94tons bm
Length
  • 125 ft 5 in (38.2 m) gundeck
  • 102 ft 5 in (31.2 m) keel for tonnage
Beam33 ft 1 in (10.1 m)
Depth of hold12 ft 5 in (3.8 m)
Sail planship-rigged
Complement180 men in 1666
Armament
  • 50/44 guns
  • 20/18 × 12-pounder guns on wooden trucks (LD)
  • 20/18 × 6-pounfer guns on wooden trucks (UD)
  • 6/4 × 6-pounfer guns on wooden trucks (QD)
  • 2 × 6-pounfer guns on wooden trucks (Fc)

HMS President was a 34-gun fourth-rate of the English Navy, built by Peter Pett I at Deptford Dockyard and launched in 1650. She was incorporated into the Commonwealth Navy in 1650. She partook in the Battle off Dover and Kentish Knock in 1652, the Battle of Portland, the Gabbard and Scheveningen in 1653. She was renamed Bonaventure in 1660. After the Restoration she was incorporated into the Royal Navy. She was present at the Battle of Lowestoft (1665), the Four Days Battle and the Oxfordness in 1666. She was rebuilt in 1666. She was present at the Battle of Martinique in 1667, Battle of Solebay (1672), Battle of Schooneveld and Texel in 1673, the Battle of Beachy Head in 1690, the Battle of Barfleur 1692.[1]

President was the second named vessel since it was used for a 26-gun ship, purchased in 1645 and sold in 1656. Known as Old President from 1650.[2]

Bonaventure was the fourth named vessel since it was used for a warship built in 1489 and gone by 1509.[3]

Construction

[edit]

She was ordered in April 1649 as part of the 1649 Programme to be built at Deptford Dockyard under the guidance of Master Shipwright Peter Pett I. She was launched 9 April 1650. Her dimensions were 124 feet 0 inches (37.8 metres) gundeck with 100 feet 0 inches (30.5 metres) keel reported for tonnage, breadth 29 feet 6 inches (9.0 metres), depth of hold 14 feet 9 inches (4.5 metres). Her builder's measured tonnage would be 462+84⁄94 tons. Her armament when built would be 38 guns of various calibres. Her armament would vary between 38 and 48 guns during her career.[4]

Commissioned service

[edit]

Service with Commonwealth Navy

[edit]

She was commissioned into the Commonwealth Navy under the command of Captain Anthony Young in 1650 for service on the West coast.

First Anglo-Dutch War

[edit]

She was in action with the Dutch off the Start on 12 May. The action off the Start led to the Battle of Dover. She was the leader of Captain Young's detachment of three ships on 19 May 1652. This battle is sometimes recorded as the Battle of Goodwin Sands.[5] On 28 September 1652 she participated in the Battle of Kentish Knock.[6] Later in 1652 she was under the command of Captain Thomas Graves. At the Battle of Portland she was a member of Robert Blake's Fleet of eighty-four ships from 18 to 20 February 1653. This British victory secured control over the English Channel. The Dutch lost eight warships and forty merchant vessels.[7] In 1653 she was under the command of Captain Francis Parker. A few months later she was at the Battle of the Gabbard as part of Blue Squadron, Center Division under the command of Vice-Admiral James Peacock, on 2–3 June 1653. The British were victorious on the first day. When Admiral Tromp attempted to reattack on the 3rd he withdrew when a squadron of eighteen ships arrived under the command of Robert Blake.[8] This fight was followed by the Battle of Scheveningen where she was a member of Red Squadron, Van Division under the command of Vice-Admiral James Peacock on 31 July 1653.[9] Later she spent the winter of 1653/54 with the east coast colliers.

In 1656 she was under Captain Benjamin Sacheverell until he died later that year then Captain Richard Potter took over.

Service after the Restoration May 1660

[edit]

In 1660 she was renamed Bonaventure.[10] On 11 August 1662 she was under the command of Captain Sir William Berkeley. In early 1663 she was docked at Chatham to be rebuilt.[11]

Chatham 1663 Rebuild

[edit]

She was rebuilt at Chatham Dockyard in 1663 under the guidance of Master Shipwright Sir Phineas Pett. She was launched in late 1663. Her dimensions were 124 feet 10 inches (38.0 metres) gundeck with 102 feet 9 inches (31.3 metres) keel reported for tonnage, breadth 30 feet 8 inches (9.3 metres), depth of hold 12 feet 4 inches (3.8 metres). Her builder's measured tonnage would be 514 tons. Her armament when built would be 38 guns of various calibres. Her armament would vary between 38 and 48 guns during her career.[12]

Her armament was changed to 48 (wartime)/ 42 (peacetime) guns consisting of twenty-two culverins[13][Note 1] on the lower deck (LD), sixteen demi-culverins[14][Note 2] on the upper deck (UD) and ten sakers[15][Note 3] on the quarterdeck (QD). In 1677 the armament would be changed to twenty-two culverins on the lower deck (LD), twenty 8-pounder guns[16][Note 4] on the upper deck (UD) and six sakers on the quarterdeck (QD).[17]

Service after rebuild 1663

[edit]

She was commissioned on 19 November 1663 under the command of Captain Arthur Laughorne. She sailed with Admiral Sir Thomas Allin's squadron to the Mediterranean in 1664. She went aground in a storm at Gibraltar on 3 December 1664, however was salved and repaired at Cadiz, Spain.

Second Anglo-Dutch War

[edit]

She participated in the Battle of Lowestoft as a member of Red Squadron, Rear Division under the command of Rear-Admiral Sir William Berkeley, on 3 June 1665.[18] She was at the Battle of Vagen (Bergen, Norway) on 3 August 1665, however, was unable to enter the harbour therefore unable to participate in the action.[19] On 14 June 1665 Captain John Waterworth took command. On 4 June she joined the Four Days' Battle' as a member of Prince Rupert's Squadron, Van division under the command of Vice-Admiral Sir Christopher Myngs.[20] As a member of Blue Squadron, Center Division under the command of Admiral Sir Jeremy Smith, she was at the St James Day Battle from 25 to 6 July 1666.[21]

She sailed to the West Indies in the spring of 1667 with Rear-Admiral Sir John Harman's Squadron. She participated in the Battle of Martinique on 24/25 June 1667.[22] On 2 July 1667 Captain William Hammond took command until he was killed at Surinam on 7 October 1667. Captain John Narborough took over on 30 October 1667.[23]

Third Anglo-Dutch War

[edit]

On 9 January 1672 Captain Richard Trevanion took command. She participated in the Battle of Solebay as a member of Blue squadron, Van Division under command of Rear-Admiral Sir John Kempthorne, on 28 May 1673.[24] On 13 June 1672 Captain Henry Killigrew took command. While commanding she partook in the Battle of Schooneveld on 28 May and 4 June 1673.[25] This was followed by the Battle of Texel on 11 August 1673.[26]

On 17 August 1673 Captain John Wood took command to escort a convoy to Gibraltar in October 1674. She remained in the Mediterranean until the end of the year when she returned home. In 1682 she was docked at Portsmouth to be rebuilt.[27]

Rebuild at Portsmouth 1683

[edit]

She was rebuilt at Portsmouth in 1683 un the guidance of Master Shipwright Isaac Betts. She was floated out of dock in 1683. Her dimensions after the second rebuild were 102 feet 6 inches (31.2 metres) keel reported for tonnage, breadth 32 feet 2 inches (9.8 metres), depth of hold 12 feet 4 inches (3.8 metres). Her builder's measured tonnage would be 564+12⁄94 tons.[28] Her armament was changed to 52 guns, consisting of twenty-two 12-pounder guns on the lower deck, twenty-two 8-pounder guns on the upper deck and two sakers on the quarterdeck. In the 1696 survey she carried only 40 guns consisting of eighteen 12-pounder guns on the lower deck, twenty 6-pounder guns on the upper deck and 2 minions on the quarterdeck.

Service after rebuild 1683

[edit]

She was commissioned on 14 May 1683 under the command of Captain Henry Priestman. She was at the evacuation of Tangiers followed by the evacuation of Sale, Morocco. In 1685, while Captain Priestman was ill lieutenant Stafford Fairbourne took command. She was in a boat action at Mamora on 12 June 1685. In 1688 She was under Captain Thomas Hopson with Dartmouth's Fleet in October the partook in Londonderry operations in 1689.[29] In 1690 she was under the command of Captain John Hubbard. She participated in the Battle of Beachy Head on 30 June 1690 as a member of Blue Squadron.[30] This was followed by the Battle of Barfleur from 19 to 24 May 1692 as a member of Red Squadron.[31] In 1896 she sailed to Hudson Bay to recapture Fort York under the command of Captain William Allen. She was in action against the former Mary Rose on 24 October 1696 during which Captain Allen was killed. Captain Vincent Cutter sailed her to Newfoundland in 1697. She was docked at Woolwich for rebuilding in 1699.[32]

Rebuild at Woolwich 1699

[edit]

She was rebuilt at Woolwich in 1698 under the guidance of Master Shipwright Fisher Harding. She was floated out of dock in 1699. Her dimensions after the third rebuild were 125 feet 5 inches (38.2 metres) gundeck with 102 feet 5 inches (31.2 metres) keel reported for tonnage, breadth 33 feet 1 inch (10.1 metres), depth of hold 12 feet 5 inches (3.8 metres). Her builder's measured tonnage would be 596+24⁄94 tons.[33] Her armament was changed to 50 guns, consisting of twenty 12-pounder guns on the lower deck, twenty 6-pounder guns on the upper deck, six 6-pounder guns on the quarterdeck and two 6-pounder guns on the foc's'le (Fc). Her peacetime armament would remove two guns from the lower deck, the upper deck and the quarterdeck.[34]

Service after rebuild 1699

[edit]

She commissioned in 1701 under the command of Captain Fleetwood Ernes for a voyage to Guinea. She was with Shovel's Squadron in October 1702. In 1703 Captain Edward Rumsey took command for convoys to Newfoundland and the West Indies. During 1704 thru 06 she was in the North Sea followed by Whetstone's squadron in 1707. Captain Philip Boys took over in 1708 and sailed with Baker's squadron on the Dutch coast then sailed in Scottish waters.

Disposition

[edit]

She was docked at Chatham in 1711 for a rebuild, however, this rebuild was actually registered as new construction.[35]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ A culverin was a gun of 4,500 pounds with a 5.5-inch bore firing a 17.5-pound shot with a 12-pound powder charge
  2. ^ A demi-culverin was a gun of 3,400 pounds with a four-inch bore firing a 9.5-pound shot with an eight-pound powder charge.
  3. ^ A sacar or saker was a gun of 1,400 pounds with a 3.5-inch bore firing a 5.5-pound shot with a 5.5-pound powder charge.
  4. ^ 8-pounder was a captured Dutch weapon.

Citations

[edit]
  1. ^ Winfield 16
  2. ^ Colledge President
  3. ^ Colledge Bonaventure
  4. ^ Winfield 16
  5. ^ Winfield 1
  6. ^ Winfield 2
  7. ^ Winfield 3
  8. ^ Winfield 4
  9. ^ Winfield 5
  10. ^ Winfield 16
  11. ^ Winfield 16
  12. ^ Winfield 17
  13. ^ Lavery, page 100
  14. ^ Lavery, page 101
  15. ^ Lavery, page 102
  16. ^ Lavery, page 101-102
  17. ^ Winfield 17
  18. ^ Winfield 6
  19. ^ Winfield 7
  20. ^ Winfield 8
  21. ^ Winfield 9
  22. ^ Winfield 10
  23. ^ Winfield 17
  24. ^ Winfield 11
  25. ^ Winfield 12
  26. ^ Winfield 13
  27. ^ Winfield 17
  28. ^ Winfield 18
  29. ^ Winfield 18
  30. ^ Winfield 14
  31. ^ Winfield 15
  32. ^ Winfield 18
  33. ^ Winfield 19
  34. ^ Winfield 19
  35. ^ Colledge, Bonaventure

References

[edit]
  • A Journal of the Swedish Embassy, in the Years MDCLIII and MDCLIV from the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, Volym 1, T. Becket and P.A. de Hondt, 1772
  • 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.
  • British Warships in the Age of Sail (1603 – 1714), by Rif Winfield, published by Seaforth Publishing, England © 2009, EPUB ISBN 978-1-78346-924-6
  1. Fleet Actions, 1.1 Battle off Dover 19 May 1652
  2. Fleet Actions, 1.3 The Battle of Kentish Knock 28 September 1652
  3. Fleet Actions, 1.5 Battle off Portland (the 'Three Days Battle') 18–20 February 1653
  4. Fleet Actions, 1.7 Battle of the Gabbard (North Foreland) 2–3 June 1653
  5. Fleet Actions, 1.8 Battle of Scheveningen (off Texel) 31 July 1653
  6. Fleet Actions, 3.1 Battle of Lowestoft 3 June 1665
  7. Fleet Actions, 3.2 Battle of Vagen (Bergen, Norway 3 August 1665
  8. Fleet Actions, 3.3 The Battle of the Galloper Sand ('the Four Days' Battle') 1–4 June 1666
  9. Fleet Actions, 3.4 Battle of Orfordness ('the St James Day Battle') 25–6 July 1666
  10. Fleet Actions, 3.8 The Battle of Martinique 24/25 June 1667
  11. Fleet Actions, 5.2 Battle of Solebay (Southwold Bay) 28 May 1672
  12. Fleet Actions, 5.3 Battle of Schooneveld 28 May and 4 June 1673
  13. Fleet Actions, 5.5 The Battle of Texel 1673
  14. Fleet Actions, 6.2 The Battle of Beachy Head 30 June 1690
  15. Fleet Actions, 6.3 Battle of Barfleur 19–22 May 1692
  16. Chapter 4, The Fourth Rates - 'Small Ships', Vessels acquired from 24 March 1603, 1649 Programme, President
  17. Chapter 4, The Fourth Rates - 'Small Ships', Vessels acquired from 2 May 1660, Rebuilt Vessels (1663-66), Bonaventure
  18. Chapter 4, The Fourth Rates - 'Small Ships', Vessels acquired from 2 May 1660, Rebuilt Vessels (1681-87), Bonaventure
  19. Chapter 4, The Fourth Rates - 'Small Ships', Vessels acquired from 18 December 1688, Inter-War (1697-1702 Rebuilding Programme, 48-gun Type, Bonaventure
  • Ships of the Royal Navy, by J.J. Colledge, revised and updated by Lt-Cdr Ben Warlow and Steve Bush, published by Seaforth Publishing, Barnsley, Great Britain, © the estate of J.J. Colledge, Ben Warlow and Steve Bush 2020, EPUB ISBN 978-1-5267-9328-7, (EPUB), Section B (Bonaventure), Section P (President)
  • The Arming and Fitting ofEnglish Ships of War 1800 – 1815, by Brian Lavery, published by US Naval Institute Press © Brian Lavery 1989, ISBN 978-0-87021-009-9, Part V Guns, Type of Guns
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