French Second Rate ship of the line 'Le Magnifique' (1685)

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Robert BaylisBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1790-1795
La Cantabré (14) 1798-1798
French 14 Gun
Privateer Brig
(1798)
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British 40 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
(1797)
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British 18 Gun
Unrated Sloop
(1782)
La Résolue (18) 1798-1798
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Privateer Unknown
(1798)
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(1794)
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Sir Graham Eden HamondBritish
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Le Magnifique
Nominal Guns	72	FWAS1626
Nationality	Royaume de France
Operator	Marine Royale
Keel Laid Down	10.1683	FWAS1626
Named	1.1684	FWAS1626
Launched	12.4.1685	FWAS1626
First Commissioned	12.1685	FWAS1626
How acquired	Purpose built	FWAS1626
Shipyard	Toulon Dockyard - Toulon	FWAS1626
Designed by	Nicolas ChapelleFrench Designer Ship Builder Service 1670-1683	FWAS1626
Constructor	Nicolas ChapelleFrench Designer Ship Builder Service 1670-1683	FWAS1626
Category	Second Rate	FWAS1626
National Rate	Second Rang	NNF-1661
Ship Type	Ship of the Line	NNF-1661
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	NNF-1661
Burnt in Action	2.6.1692	FWAS1626

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentNNF-1661
Length of Gundeck142' 0"French Feet (Pied du Roi)46.1216 (151′ 3″ Imperial)
Length of Keel116' 0"French Feet (Pied du Roi)37.6768 (123′ 7″ Imperial)
Breadth39' 0"French Feet (Pied du Roi)12.6672 (41′ 6″ Imperial)
Depth in Hold17' 0"French Feet (Pied du Roi)5.5216 (18′ 1″ Imperial)
Burthen1,500Ton

Armament

12.1685Broadside Weight = 822 French Livre (887.1024 lbs 402.369 kg)NNF-1661
Lower Gun Deck26 French 36-Pounder
Middle Gun Deck26 French 18-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck24 French 8-Pounder
Quarterdeck/Forecastle8 French 6-Pounder

1686Broadside Weight = 540 French Livre (582.768 lbs 264.33 kg)FWAS1626
Lower Gun Deck12 French 24-Pounder
Lower Gun Deck14 French 18-Pounder
Middle Gun Deck14 French 18-Pounder
Middle Gun Deck12 French 12-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck16 French 8-Pounder
Roundhouse4 French 4-Pounder

1691Broadside Weight = 584 French Livre (630.2528 lbs 285.868 kg)FWAS1626
Lower Gun Deck12 French 24-Pounder
Lower Gun Deck14 French 18-Pounder
Middle Gun Deck14 French 18-Pounder
Middle Gun Deck12 French 12-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck26 French 8-Pounder
Roundhouse6 French 4-Pounder

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
12.1685559 FWAS1626

2 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
1690Capitaine de Vaisseauref:6871692 - 2.6.1692Chef d'EscadreFWIKI

1 Flag Officer

DatesRankNameSource
1688Vice-Amiral du PonantBNF1

Service History

DateEventSource
26.6.1688Bombardment of Algiers
1690Rerated as a 84 gunner Premier RangFWAS1626
30.6.1690Battle of Beachy Head
19.5.1692Battle of Barfleur
2.6.1692Battle of La Hogue

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

BNF1Onesime-Joachim Troude, Digital Book

FWAS1626Stephen S. Roberts, Rif Winfield, Book

FWIKIVarious, Web Site

NNF-1661Alain Demerliac, Book

ref:687Philippe de Vilette-Mursay, Book

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Date posted	By	Page
Monday 15th of June 2026 04:19	Jon Miller	Robert BaylisBritish Naval Sailor Service 1790-1795
Monday 15th of June 2026 04:17	Jon Miller	French Privateer brig 'La Cantabré' (1798) (14) 1798-1798 French 14 Gun Privateer Brig
Monday 15th of June 2026 04:16	Jon Miller	British Fifth Rate frigate 'Cambrian' (1797) (40) 1797-1828 British 40 Gun 5th Rate Frigate
Monday 15th of June 2026 04:12	Jon Miller	British sloop 'Kingfisher' (1782) (18) 1782-1798 British 18 Gun Unrated Sloop
Sunday 14th of June 2026 18:29	Jon Miller	French Privateer 'La Résolue' (1798) (18) 1798-1798 French 18 Gun Privateer Unknown

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