HMS Bonaventure (1650) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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.svg){kind=small} Great Britain |
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| Name | President |
| Builder | Peter Pett I, Deptford Dockyard |
| Launched | 1650 |
| Renamed | HMS Bonaventure, 1660 |
| Fate | Broken up in 1711 |
| General characteristics as built | |
| Class and type | 38-gun fourth rate frigate |
| Tons burthen | 462 (bm) |
| Length | 100 ft (30.5 m) (keel) |
| Beam | 29 ft 6 in (9.0 m) |
| Depth of hold | 12 ft 8 in (3.9 m) |
| Propulsion | Sails |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Armament | 38 guns (1660); 48 guns (1677) |
| General characteristics after 1683 rebuild | |
| Class and type | 40-gun fourth rate ship of the line |
| Tons burthen | 550 bm |
| Length | 124 ft 10 in (38.0 m) (gundeck) |
| Beam | 31 ft 10 in (9.7 m) |
| Depth of hold | 12 ft 6 in (3.8 m) |
| Propulsion | Sails |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Armament | 40 guns of various weights of shot |
| General characteristics after 1699 rebuild | |
| Class and type | 46-54-gun fourth rate ship of the line |
| Tons burthen | 597 (bm) |
| Length | 125 ft 5 in (38.2 m) (gundeck) |
| Beam | 33 ft 1+1⁄2 in (10.1 m) |
| Depth of hold | 12 ft 5 in (3.8 m) |
| Propulsion | Sails |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Armament | 46-54 guns of various weights of shot |
| General characteristics after 1711 rebuild | |
| Class and type | 1706 Establishment 50-gun fourth rate ship of the line |
| Tons burthen | 703 bm |
| Length | 130 ft (39.6 m) (gundeck) |
| Beam | 35 ft (10.7 m) |
| Depth of hold | 14 ft (4.3 m) |
| Propulsion | Sails |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Armament |
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| General characteristics after 1722 rebuild | |
| Class and type | 1719 Establishment 50-gun fourth rate ship of the line |
| Tons burthen | 764 (bm) |
| Length | 134 ft (40.8 m) (gundeck) |
| Beam | 36 ft (11.0 m) |
| Depth of hold | 15 ft 2 in (4.6 m) |
| Propulsion | Sails |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Armament |
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The President was a powerful warship, first built in 1650 for the navy of the Commonwealth of England. This was a time when England was not ruled by a king. She was a 38-gun fourth-rate frigate, which means she was a medium-sized warship with a good number of cannons. She was built by Peter Pett I at the Deptford Dockyard, a famous shipbuilding place.
Contents
A Ship with Many Names
This ship had a long and interesting life, changing her name and even her design several times!
In 1660, when the king returned to power in England (this event was called the Stuart Restoration), the ship was renamed HMS Bonaventure. This new name honored an older ship that had been destroyed a few years earlier.
The Bonaventure saw action early in her career. She fought in the Battle of Dover in 1652. This battle was part of the First Anglo-Dutch War, a series of conflicts between England and the Netherlands over trade and sea power.
Over time, ships were often updated to keep them strong and effective. In 1663, Bonaventure was made wider. By 1677, she had even more cannons, increasing her firepower to 48 guns.
Many Rebuilds and New Designs
Warships of this era were often rebuilt from scratch, sometimes using parts of the old ship. This was like getting a brand new ship with the same name!
- First Rebuild (1683): Bonaventure was rebuilt and relaunched as a 40-gun fourth-rate ship of the line. A ship of the line was a large, powerful warship meant to fight in a battle line.
- Second Rebuild (1699): She was rebuilt again at Woolwich Dockyard. This time, she became a fourth-rate ship with between 46 and 54 guns.
- Third Rebuild (1711): Her third rebuild happened at Chatham Dockyard. She was rebuilt as a 50-gun fourth-rate ship, following new design standards called the 1706 Establishment. She was relaunched on September 19, 1711.
Before the Jacobite rising of 1715 (a rebellion aimed at bringing a different royal family to the throne), she was renamed again, becoming HMS Argyll.
Final Transformation
On January 27, 1720, the Argyll was ordered to be taken apart at Woolwich for her final rebuild. She was relaunched on July 5, 1722, as a 50-gun fourth-rate ship, built to the 1719 Establishment standards. This was her last major change.
Years of Service
After her final rebuild, Argyll served for many years in the waters around Britain and in the Atlantic Ocean.
War and Captures
During the War of the Austrian Succession, a major European conflict, Argyll was used for blockade duties. This meant she would patrol to stop enemy ships from entering or leaving ports.
In 1741, Argyll had a successful year. She captured five Spanish "coasters" (small ships that sailed along the coast). With the help of two other British warships, she also managed to free five captured British warships that were being held in north-western Spain.
Final Missions
In 1742, Argyll was given the important job of escorting convoys of East Indiamen (large merchant ships) from St. Helena back to England. Escorting convoys meant protecting these valuable ships from pirates or enemy warships.
In 1745, she returned to Britain after escorting another convoy. In 1746, she was "paid off," which means her crew was discharged, and the ship was taken out of active service.
End of an Era
After the war ended in 1748, Argyll was towed to Harwich. There, she was intentionally sunk (scuttled) to become part of a breakwater. A breakwater is a barrier built in the water to protect a harbor or coast from waves. This was her final resting place after a long and varied career.
