HMS Ramillies (1785) facts for kids
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Hull plan of HMS Thunderer
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 Great Britain |
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| Name | HMS Ramillies |
| Ordered | 19 June 1782 |
| Builder | Randall, Rotherhithe |
| Laid down | December 1782 |
| Launched | 12 July 1785 |
| Fate | Broken up, February 1850 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Culloden-class ship of the line |
| Tons burthen | 1677+17⁄94 (bm) |
| Length | 170 ft 4 in (51.92 m) (gundeck); 139 ft 9 in (42.60 m) (keel) |
| Beam | 47 ft 6 in (14.48 m) |
| Depth of hold | 19 ft 11+1⁄2 in (6.083 m) |
| Propulsion | Sails |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Armament |
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The HMS Ramillies was a powerful warship of the Royal Navy. It was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line, meaning it carried 74 cannons on its decks. This impressive vessel was built and launched on July 12, 1785, in a place called Rotherhithe.
Contents
Ramillies in the French Wars
The HMS Ramillies played a part in the French Revolutionary Wars, a series of big conflicts in Europe. These wars involved many countries, including Great Britain and France.
Early Incidents and Battles
On April 4, 1796, something unexpected happened. While the Ramillies was moving, it accidentally crashed into and sank a smaller ship. This ship was a hired armed lugger called the Spider.
Later, in 1801, the Ramillies was part of a group of ships led by Admiral Sir Hyde Parker. This group was a backup force during the Battle of Copenhagen. Because it was in the reserve, the Ramillies did not directly fight in this battle.
Capturing Islands in the West Indies
In 1807, the Ramillies sailed to the West Indies, a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea. It was part of a squadron, or group of warships, led by Rear-Admiral Alexander Cochrane.
Taking Control of Danish Islands
The British government was worried that Denmark, a neutral country, might join forces with Napoleon. So, in December 1807, the Ramillies joined Cochrane's mission to capture Danish islands. They took St Thomas on December 22 and Santa Cruz on December 25. The Danish forces did not fight back, so no one was hurt during these captures.
Ramillies in the War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a conflict between the United States and Great Britain. In August 1812, Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy took command of the Ramillies. He was sent to North America when the war began.
Campaigns in North America
Sir Thomas Hardy led a fleet, with the Ramillies as his main ship. This fleet helped transport and protect an army led by John Coape Sherbrooke. This army successfully captured several important coastal areas in eastern Maine. At that time, Maine was part of Massachusetts. They took control of places like Fort Sullivan, Eastport, Machias, Bangor, and Castine.
On December 4, 1813, the Ramillies and another ship, the Loire, recaptured a whaler named Policy. The United States Navy had captured this whaling ship in the South Pacific. The British ships sent the Policy to Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Battle of Stonington and Baltimore
However, not every mission was a success. On August 10, 1814, a group of sailors from the Ramillies landed at Stonington, Connecticut. Their goal was to burn the town and its ships, but they were stopped and defeated by the local defenders.
During the Battle of North Point, a group of Royal Marines from several ships, including the Ramillies, joined the land forces. They fought bravely, and two marines from the Ramillies sadly lost their lives. After this, the Ramillies sailed to New Orleans. Its smaller boats took part in the Battle of Lake Borgne in December 1814. In 1847, a special medal was given to those who served in the boat action on December 14, 1814.
Life After War
After the War of 1812, the Ramillies continued to serve the Royal Navy in different roles.
Guardship Duties
In June 1818, the Ramillies was prepared to become a guardship at Sheerness. A guardship was a warship stationed in a harbor to protect it. Captain Aiskew Hollis took command in September, and the Ramillies became a guardship at Portsmouth. While there, a smaller ship called HMS Viper worked with it. The Viper caught some smugglers in 1820 and 1821. This led to prize money being paid to the crews of both the Viper and the Ramillies.
Final Years of Service
In August 1821, Captain Edward Brace took command. The Ramillies then helped with the Coastal Blockade in the Downs. After some repairs, it became a guardship at Portsmouth again in 1823.
In June 1831, the Ramillies was sent to Chatham Dockyard. It was changed into a lazaretto, which is a special hospital for people who need to be kept separate to prevent the spread of diseases. It then moved to Sheerness to serve in this role. The HMS Ramillies was finally taken apart, or "broken up," in February 1850.
