HMS Royal Anne Galley (1709) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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|---|---|
 Great Britain |
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| Name | HMS Royal Anne Galley |
| Namesake | Anne, Queen of Great Britain |
| Builder | Woolwich Dockyard |
| Launched | 1709 |
| Completed | 1709 |
| Fate | Wrecked on 10 November 1721 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | fifth-rate frigate |
| Tonnage | 511bm |
| Length | 38.7 metres (127 ft 0 in) |
| Beam | 6.4 metres (21 ft 0 in) |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Crew | 182 |
| Notes | Captain Francis Willis |
HMS Royal Anne Galley was a British warship from the 1700s. She was a type of ship called a fifth-rate frigate, which means she was a medium-sized warship with 42 cannons. Sadly, she was lost in a terrible storm off Lizard Point, Cornwall, while sailing to the West Indies. Today, her wreck is protected by Historic England.
Building the Royal Anne Galley
The Royal Anne Galley was built and launched in 1709 at Woolwich Dockyard in England. She was named after Anne, Queen of Great Britain, who was the queen at that time. The ship served the Royal Navy for 12 years, from 1709 until she was lost in 1721.
This ship was about 38.7 metres (127 ft 0 in) long and 6.4 metres (21 ft 0 in) wide. She carried 42 cannons. Interestingly, the Royal Anne Galley was the very last fighting ship in the Royal Navy that used oars, as well as sails, to move.
The Ship's Final Voyage
On 10 November 1721, HMS Royal Anne Galley was on an important journey. She was sailing from the UK to the West Indies, carrying John Hamilton, who was the new Governor of Barbados.
However, the ship ran into very bad weather. A huge storm, called a gale, hit the ship. The crew tried to turn back to a safe port in Falmouth, but the storm was too strong. The Royal Anne Galley was caught in the middle of the storm and was pushed onto the dangerous Stag Rocks, near Lizard Point, Cornwall.
It was a terrible disaster. Out of about 200 people on board, including passengers and crew, only two survived the shipwreck. Governor John Hamilton was among those who died. It is thought that local people buried the bodies that washed ashore in a place called Pistil Meadow.
Finding the Wreck
The remains of the Royal Anne Galley lie underwater near Lizard Point. A local diver named Robert Sherratt discovered the wreck in 1991.
When the wreck was explored, some interesting items were found. These included cutlery that had the family symbol of Lord Belhaven, the governor who was on board the ship. These findings help us learn more about the ship and the people who sailed on her.
