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HMY William & Mary (1694) facts for kids
His Majesty's Yacht WILLIAM & MARY by Thomas Baston 1696
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| History | |
|---|---|
 Great Britain |
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| Name | William and Mary |
| Namesake | William III and Mary II |
| Ordered | February 1693 |
| Builder | Robert Lee, Chatham Dockyard |
| Launched | September 1694 |
| Commissioned | 1695 |
| Decommissioned | 1800 |
| Refit | 1765 |
| Fate | Sold, 1801 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Yacht |
| Tons burthen | 152 18⁄94 (bm) |
| Length |
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| Beam | 21 ft 7 in (6.58 m) |
| Depth | 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m) |
| Sail plan | Ketch-rigged |
| Complement |
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| Armament |
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The HM Yacht William and Mary was a special ship called a royal yacht. It was named after King William III and Queen Mary II, who ruled Great Britain together. This yacht was built in 1694 and later completely rebuilt in 1765. It served for over 100 years before it was sold in 1801.
Contents
A Royal Ship's Journey
Building the Yacht
King William III and Queen Mary II ordered this yacht in February 1693. A skilled shipbuilder named Robert Lee designed and built her. The work took place at Chatham Dockyard. The yacht was ready and launched in September 1694.
Carrying Important People
Like other royal yachts, William and Mary often carried important people. These included military leaders, politicians, and diplomats. The Royal family also used the yacht for their travels. King William III often traveled to Holland on this yacht during important times.
A Visit from Peter the Great
In 1697, a famous ruler named Tsar Peter the Great from Russia visited Europe. King William III sent another ship, HMS York, to bring Peter from Holland to England. When York reached the River Thames, Peter switched to William and Mary. He sailed up the river on the yacht to London Bridge. From there, he went to the Palace of Whitehall.
Captains and Battles
From 1695 to 1701, Sir William Saunderson was the captain of William and Mary. In 1702, Captain William Robinson took over. He was in command when the yacht took part in the Battle of Malaga in 1704. This was a big naval battle. Captain Robinson stayed in command until 1713.
The yacht went through several repairs over the years. It had different captains, too. These captains helped keep the yacht in service for a very long time.
A Special Royal Voyage
One of William and Mary's most famous trips happened in 1761. She was part of a group of six royal yachts. These yachts, along with six large warships, sailed from Harwich. Their mission was to pick up Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. She was going to marry King George III.
The ships sailed to Cuxhaven to meet the Princess. The journey back was tough! They faced strong westerly winds. These winds blew them off course three times, almost wrecking them near the Norwegian coast. Despite the rough seas, they safely returned to Harwich on September 6.
Rebuilding the Yacht
From January 1764 to August 1765, William and Mary was completely rebuilt. This big project happened at Deptford Dockyard. Adam Hayes oversaw the rebuilding. This made the yacht almost like new again. After this, she continued to serve the Royal Navy for many more years.
The End of Service
Around 1800, William and Mary was the oldest ship still in the Navy. She had served for over a century! The Navy decided to sell her. On September 14, 1801, the hull of "William and Mary" was sold at an auction. Someone bought her for £210. This marked the end of her long and important service.
See also
- List of Royal Yachts of the United Kingdom