HMS Hampton Court (1678) facts for kids
The English Ship Hampton Court in a Gale, Willem van de Velde the Younger 1680s
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 England |
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| Name | HMS Hampton Court |
| Ordered | April 1677 |
| Builder | John Shish, Deptford Dockyard |
| Laid down | 1677 |
| Launched | 10 July 1678 |
| Commissioned | 9 May 1678 |
| Honours and awards |
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| Captured | 2 May 1707 |
| Fate | In French Navy 1707-1711, sold to Spanish 1712, wrecked in 1715 |
| General characteristics as built | |
| Class and type | 70-gun third rate ship of the line |
| Tons burthen | 1,03621⁄94 tons (bm) |
| Length |
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| Beam | 40 ft 1 in (12.22 m) |
| Draught | 18 ft 6 in (5.64 m) |
| Depth of hold | 17 ft 0 in (5.18 m) |
| Propulsion | Sails |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Armament |
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| General characteristics after 1701 rebuild | |
| Class and type | 70-gun third rate ship of the line |
| Tons burthen | 1,073 long tons (1,090.2 t) |
| Length | 150 ft 6 in (45.9 m) (gundeck) |
| Beam | 40 ft 4.5 in (12.3 m) |
| Depth of hold | 16 ft 11 in (5.2 m) |
| Propulsion | Sails |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Armament |
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HMS Hampton Court was a powerful warship from the Royal Navy, built in 1678. She was a "70-gun third rate ship of the line". This meant she was a large warship with 70 cannons, designed to fight in a line formation during battles.
She was built at Deptford Dockyard and launched on July 10, 1678. After being built, she spent about ten years in a quiet state, ready to be used. Later, she became very active during the War of the English Succession. She fought in important battles like Beachy Head and Barfleur.
The ship was rebuilt between 1699 and 1701 to make her even stronger. During the War of Spanish Succession, she mostly served in the Mediterranean Sea. In 1707, French forces captured her. She then served in the French Navy for four years. In 1712, she was sold to the Spanish. Sadly, in 1715, she was wrecked in a hurricane off the coast of Florida.
HMS Hampton Court was the very first ship in the English and Royal Navy to have this name. She earned special awards called "Battle Honours" for her bravery in the Battle of Barfleur in 1692 and the Battle of Marbella in 1705.
Contents
Building a Warship: HMS Hampton Court
Building HMS Hampton Court started in April 1677. She was constructed at Deptford Dockyard by a master shipbuilder named Jonas Shish. Her main structure, called the keel, was laid down in 1677. The ship was then launched into the water on July 10, 1678.
This ship was quite large for its time. Her main deck for guns measured about 150 feet (45.8 meters) long. The widest part of the ship, called the beam, was about 40 feet (12.2 meters). She weighed around 1,036 tons. When fully loaded, she sat about 18.5 feet (5.6 meters) deep in the water.
What Guns Did She Carry?
When first built, HMS Hampton Court had 70 cannons. These guns were placed on different decks:
- Lower Deck: 26 large cannons called demi-cannons.
- Upper Deck: 24 medium-sized 12-pounder guns.
- Quarterdeck: 10 smaller cannons called sakers.
- Forecastle: 4 more sakers.
- Poop Deck/Roundhouse: 4 small 3-pounder guns.
Over time, the types of guns she carried changed a bit. By 1688, she still had 70 guns, but some of the 12-pounders were replaced with different cannons called demi-culverins. By 1696, her gun setup changed again, but she still carried 70 guns in total. A ship like this needed a large crew, usually between 300 and 460 sailors.
HMS Hampton Court in Action
Early Years: 1678 to 1699
HMS Hampton Court was officially ready for service on May 9, 1678. Her first job was to move to Chatham, where she stayed for ten years. This was a time when she was kept ready but not actively sailing or fighting.
In November 1688, she became active under Captain Henry Priestman. This was during a big change in England when King James II left and William III and Mary II became rulers. In 1689, she served as the main ship for Rear-Admiral Lord John Berkeley.
From 1690 to 1691, Captain John Layton was in command. He led her into the Battle of Beachy Head on May 30, 1690. This was a major naval battle. After Captain Layton's death, Captain John Graydon took over from 1691 to 1694. He commanded the ship during the famous Battle of Barfleur between June 19 and 22, 1692. This was another huge battle where the English and Dutch navies fought against the French.
Later, Captain Henry Robinson commanded her from 1696 to 1697. After these years of service, the ship was sent to Blackwall to be rebuilt.
Rebuilding the Ship: 1699-1701
The order to rebuild HMS Hampton Court was given on September 27, 1699. Henry Johnson of Blackwall was in charge of this big project. The ship was finished and relaunched in 1701.
After the rebuild, she was slightly larger. Her main gun deck was still about 150 feet (45.8 meters) long, but her width increased a little to about 40 feet (12.3 meters). Her weight also increased to about 1,073 tons. She likely kept a similar number of guns, around 70, as she had before the rebuild.
Later Service: 1702 to 1707
In 1702, Captain Charles Wager took command of HMS Hampton Court. He stayed her captain until 1706. In July 1702, she helped protect a group of ships in the North Sea. By October, she joined Admiral Sir Cloudisley Shovell's large fleet.
In 1703, she sailed to the Mediterranean Sea with Shovell's fleet. On March 10, 1705, she was part of Vice-Admiral Sir John Leake's fleet at the Battle of Marbella. This battle was a final attempt by the French to capture Gibraltar from the English. Admiral Leake's fleet won a huge victory, capturing or destroying all five French warships.
Later in 1705, she joined Rear-Admiral Thomas Dilke's squadron and stayed in the Mediterranean. She was stationed near Alicante, Spain. In 1707, under Captain George Clements, she was near Barcelona, Spain.
The Final Voyage and Loss
HMS Hampton Court was captured by a French squadron led by Forbin on May 2, 1707. This happened off the coast of Brighton, near Beachy Head. After being captured, she became part of the French Navy and served them from 1707 to 1711.
In 1712, the French sold her to the Spanish Navy in Dunkirk. The Spanish renamed her Capitaine. Her story ended tragically in 1715. She was the main ship of a Spanish fleet carrying treasure, known as the 1715 Treasure Fleet. This entire fleet was destroyed by a powerful hurricane off the coast of Florida, near what is now called the Treasure Coast.
See also
- List of ships captured in the 18th century
