British Fifth Rate fireship 'Lightning' (1691)

Three Decks' Forum

Come and ask, answer or inform.

Recent updates

Update
Seaflower (16) 1782-1808
British 16 Gun
Unrated Cutter
Update
William PierrepontBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1789-1812
Update
Meleager (32) 1785-1801
British 32 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
Update
Sir Thomas Masterman HardyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1781-1837
Update
James CarterBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1793-1794
Update
Fortitude (74) 1780-1820
British 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
Added
William GraingerBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1793-1794
Update
Britannia (100) 1762-1825
British 100 Gun
1st Rate Ship of the Line
1812 Renamed "Princess Royal"
1812 Renamed "Saint George"
1819 Renamed "Barfleur"
Update
Thomas Gordon CaulfieldBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1793-1821
Update
Victory (100) 1765-2019
British 100 Gun
1st Rate Ship of the Line
See more...

Lightning	5098
Nominal Guns	28	B028
Nationality	Kingdom of England
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	25.9.1690	BWAS-1603
Acquired	20.3.1690/91	B028
Shipyard	Cuckolds Point - Rotherhithe	B028
Ship Class	1690 Program Fireships (1690)	B028
Constructor	John TaylorBritish Ship Builder Service 1690-1703	B028
Category	Fifth Rate	B028
Ship Type	Fireship	B028
Captured	24.11.1705	B028

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1603
Length of Gundeck91' 2"Imperial Feet27.7876
Length of Keel80' 0"Imperial Feet24.384
Breadth25' 2"Imperial Feet7.6302
Depth in Hold9' 8 ½"Imperial Feet2.7559
Burthen269 ⁴⁸⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

20.3.1690/91Broadside Weight = 86 Imperial Pound ( 39.001 kg)BWAS-1603
Lower Gun Deck4 British 9-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck20 British 6-Pounder
Quarterdeck4 British 4-Pounder

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
2.12.1690115Design Complement

10 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
16.3.1690/91 - 28.9.1691CaptainBWAS-160311.11.1693 - 27.2.1695/96CaptainBWAS-160328.2.1695/96 - 22.11.1696Captain ADM 6/3/132BWAS-160323.11.1696 - 14.2.1696/97Captain Transfered ADM 6/4/48ADM 6/415.2.1696/97 - 12.8.1697Captain ADM 6/4/74BWAS-160313.8.1697 - 27.9.1698Captain ADM 6/4/137
Issued by , The Mediterranean Sea
Confirmed 12.1.1697/98BWAS-160321.2.1700/1 - 15.1.1701/2Captain and Master ADM 6/6/58ADM 6/69.3.1701/2 - 13.10.1702Captain and Master ADM 6/7/16BWAS-160314.10.1702 - 10.1.1702/3Commander ADM 6/7/62
Confirmed 28.11.1702BWAS-160311.1.1702/3 - 24.11.1705Commander ADM 6/7/76ADM 6/7

3 Commissioned Officers

DatesRankNameSource
8.3.1700/1 - 15.1.1701/2Lieutenant ADM 6/6/70ADM 6/610.3.1701/2 - 13.1.1702/3Lieutenant ADM 6/7/17ADM 6/714.1.1702/3 - 24.11.1705Lieutenant ADM 6/7/77ADM 6/7

13 Warrant Officers

DatesRankNameSource
31.12.1695 - 1.8.1698Cook ADM 6/3/110ADM 6/31696 - 14.2.1695/96Carpenter ADM 6/3/144ADM 6/31696 - 7.12.1696Boatswain ADM 6/4/52ADM 6/415.2.1695/96 - 1696Carpenter ADM 6/3/129ADM 6/38.12.1696 - 15.7.1697Boatswain Transfered ADM 6/4/52ADM 6/49.7.1697 - 28.9.1699Gunner Transfered ADM 6/4/132
Issued by , The Mediterranean Sea
Confirmed 13.12.1697ADM 6/49.8.1697 - 4.12.1697Boatswain ADM 6/4/130
Issued by , The Mediterranean Sea
Confirmed 13.12.1697ADM 6/41698 - 26.1.1697/98Carpenter Transfered ADM 6/5/2ADM 6/527.1.1697/98 - 27.11.1698Carpenter Transfered ADM 6/5/2ADM 6/52.8.1698 - 22.5.1699Cook Transfered ADM 6/5/25ADM 6/523.5.1699 - 1699Cook ADM 6/5/54ADM 6/512.10.1699 - 1699Cook ADM 6/6/14ADM 6/61700 - 12.3.1699/1700Boatswain ADM 6/6/26ADM 6/6

2 Petty Officers

DatesRatingNameSource
22.6.1692 - 24.9.1692Master's Mate ADM 107/1/56ADM 107/125.9.1692 - 17.1.1693/94Midshipman ADM 107/1/56ADM 107/1

Service History

DateEventSource
28.9.1691Paid offADM 51
19.5.1692Battle of Barfleur
1693To the MediterraneanBWAS-1603
1696With the Iceland ConvoyBWAS-1603
1697In the West IndiesBWAS-1603
27.9.1698Paid offADM 33
12.10.1702Battle of Vigo
13.8.1704Battle of Malaga
24.11.1705Taken by the FrenchBWAS-1603

Previous comments on this pageno comments to display

Make a comment about this page

Recent comments to other pages

Date posted	By	Page
Saturday 13th of June 2026 08:07	Jon Miller	British sloop 'Kingfisher' (1782) (18) 1782-1798 British 18 Gun Unrated Sloop
Saturday 13th of June 2026 08:05	Jon Miller	British Fifth Rate frigate 'Beaulieu' (1791) (40) 1791-1806 British 40 Gun 5th Rate Frigate
Saturday 13th of June 2026 08:02	Jon Miller	British Fifth Rate frigate 'Artois' (1794) (38) 1794-1797 British 38 Gun 5th Rate Frigate
Saturday 13th of June 2026 07:58	Jon Miller	British Fifth Rate frigate 'Amphion' (1780) (32) 1780-1796 British 32 Gun 5th Rate Frigate
Saturday 13th of June 2026 07:56	Jon Miller	Sir William BoltonBritish Naval Sailor Service 1795-1815

GDPR Statement