British Fourth Rate ship of the line 'Bristol' (1746)

Three Decks' Forum

Come and ask, answer or inform.

Recent updates

Recent Comments

              

Bristol

7505
Nominal Guns50
NationalityGreat Britain
OperatorRoyal Navy
Ordered22.11.1742
Keel Laid Down24.6.1743
Launched9.7.1746
First Commissioned2.7.1746
How acquiredPurpose built
ShipyardWoolwich Dockyard - Woolwich
Ship Class1741 Establishment 50-Gunner - modified (1742)
Designed by
John HollandBritish
Designer
Ship Builder
Dockyard Staff
Service 1726-1752
Constructor
John HollandBritish
Designer
Ship Builder
Dockyard Staff
Service 1726-1752
CategoryFourth Rate
Ship TypeShip of the Line
Sailing RigShip Rigged
Broken Up21.10.1768

Dimensions


DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck146' 0"Imperial Feet44.5008 
Length of Keel120' 0"Imperial Feet36.576 
Breadth40' 0"Imperial Feet12.192 
Depth in Hold16' 10"Imperial Feet4.8768 
Burthen1,021 26,94Imperial Feet1.1938 

Armament


9.7.1746Broadside Weight = 414 Imperial Pound ( 187.749 kg)BWAS-1714
Lower Gun Deck22 British 24-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck22 British 12-Pounder
Quarterdeck2 British 6-Pounder
Quarterdeck4 British 6-Pounder

Crew Complement


Date# of MenNotesSource
1741300Design Complement
1749120as a guard shipBWAS-1714

12 Ship Commanders


DatesRankNameSource
2.7.1746 - 6.4.1748Captain
The Hon. William MontagueBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1740-1754
ADM 6/17/122BWAS-17146.4.1748 - 13.9.1748Captain
John MontaguBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1733-1787
ADM 3/17/341ADM 6/1713.9.1748 - 23.9.1748Captain
Francis HolburneBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1720-1768
Transfered ADM 6/17/383ADM 6/1723.9.1748 - 13.6.1749Captain
The Hon. William MontagueBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1740-1754
ADM 6/17/385ADM 6/1713.6.1749 - 5.12.1751Captain
James OsbornBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1738-1752
Transfered ADM 6/17/469BWAS-17145.12.1751 - 20.11.1752Captain
Julian LeggeBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1744-1762
ADM 6/18/18BWAS-171430.1.1753 - 24.1.1754Captain
Robert RoddamBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1741-1805
ADM 6/18/57BWAS-171424.1.1754 - 28.3.1754Captain
Thomas LathamBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1735-1759
ADM 6/18/88ADM 6/1828.3.1754 - 31.7.1754Captain
Samuel MarshallBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1722-1762
Transfered ADM 6/18/95BWAS-17141.7.1755 - 29.1.1759Captain
Lachlan LeslieBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1733-1761
Transfered ADM 6/18/177BWAS-171429.1.1759 - 12.5.1759Captain
Peter ParkerBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1743-1799
Transfered ADM 6/19/190
Issued by
John MooreBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1738-1778
, Barbados - Windward Islands - Barbados & the Leeward Islands
Confirmed 14.8.1760BWAS-171412.5.1759 - 22.1.1760Captain
Edward ClarkBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1737-1764
ADM 6/19/220
Issued by
John MooreBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1738-1778
, Barbados - Windward Islands - Barbados & the Leeward Islands
Confirmed 16.12.1760ADM 6/19

24 Commissioned Officers


DatesRankNameSource
3.7.1746 - 7.4.1747First Lieutenant
Francis WyattBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1740-1760
: on board from 12.10.1746 Discharged ADM 6/17/122ADM 6/173.7.1746 - 5.7.1747Second Lieutenant
John BagsterBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1737-1763
ADM 6/17/122ADM 6/1730.9.1746 - 15.4.1747Third Lt. & Lt. at Arms
Charles MackieBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1733-1748
ADM 6/17/158ADM 6/174.1747 - 4.1748Lieutenant
Thomas DurellBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1742-1757
ADM/L5.7.1747 - 15.4.1748Second Lieutenant
Robert FaulknorBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1731-1783
: on board from 6.7.1747 ADM 6/17/254ADM 6/1715.4.1748 - 23.4.1748Second Lieutenant
Charles MackieBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1733-1748
ADM 3/17/345ADM 6/1723.4.1748 - 3.5.1748First Lieutenant
Charles MackieBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1733-1748
ADM 3/17/348ADM 6/1723.4.1748 - 3.5.1748Third Lt. & Lt. at Arms
Lancelot SkynnerBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1748-1756
Transfered ADM 3/17/348ADM 6/173.5.1748 - 21.10.1748First Lieutenant
Joshua WeldonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1745-1752
ADM 3/17/349ADM 6/173.5.1748 - 25.10.1748Second Lieutenant
Charles MackieBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1733-1748
ADM 3/17/349ADM 6/1721.10.1748 - 16.7.1751First Lieutenant
Robert FaulknorBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1731-1783
ADM 6/17/392ADM 6/1725.10.1748 - 13.6.1751Second Lieutenant
Joshua WeldonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1745-1752
ADM 6/17/393ADM 6/1725.10.1748 - 15.11.1748Third Lt. & Lt. at Arms
Charles MackieBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1733-1748
ADM 6/17/393ADM 6/1715.11.1748 - 25.1.1751/52Third Lt. & Lt. at Arms
William YongeBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1741-1755
Transfered ADM 6/17/407ADM 6/1713.6.1751 - 7.8.1752First Lieutenant
Joshua WeldonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1745-1752
ADM 6/18/6ADM 6/1813.6.1751 - 10.11.1752Second Lieutenant
Hugh ParryBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1740-1771
: on board from 18.6.1751 ADM 6/18/6ADM 6/1821.1.1751/52 - 26.11.1752Third Lieutenant
Walker FarrBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1746-1755
ADM 6/18/22ADM/L10.2.1753 - 15.1.1754Third Lieutenant
Jeremiah MorganBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1753-1806
ADM/L10.7.1755 - 31.3.1756First Lieutenant
Jacob ReadBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1733-1756
ADM 6/18/179ADM 6/1810.7.1755 - 13.3.1756Second Lieutenant
John HickesBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1740-1763
ADM 6/18/179ADM 6/1819.2.1756 - 31.3.1756Third Lieutenant
George TalbotBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1744-1782
ADM 6/18/238ADM 6/1831.3.1756 - 3.4.1757First Lieutenant
John HickesBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1740-1763
Transfered ADM 6/18/250ADM 6/1831.3.1756 - 5.9.1757Second Lieutenant
George TalbotBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1744-1782
Transfered ADM 6/18/250ADM 6/1831.3.1756 - 21.12.1758Third Lieutenant
Christopher KeatingBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1745-1763
Transfered ADM 6/18/250ADM 6/18

3 Petty Officers


DatesRatingNameSource
30.11.1749 - 26.4.1752Midshipman
John FergusonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1738-1814
Transfered ADM 107/4/344ADM 107/46.6.1754 - 1.4.1755Midshipman
Thomas HickesBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1744-1801
Transfered ADM 107/4/397ADM 107/410.6.1756 - 3.5.1758Midshipman
Francis NottBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1756-1782
Transfered ADM 107/5/384ADM 107/5

3 Crewmen


DatesRatingNameSource
6.7.1748 - 1.10.1748Able Seaman
Rawlins HeyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1747-1752
Transfered ADM 107/4/268ADM 107/419.3.1748/49 - 29.11.1749Able Seaman
John FergusonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1738-1814
Transfered ADM 107/4/344ADM 107/47.2.1751/52 - 11.10.1752Able Seaman
George TalbotBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1744-1782
Transfered ADM 107/4/273ADM 107/4

Service History


DateEventSource
7.1746Commissioned for cruisingBWAS-1714
16.8.1746Completed at Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich at a cost of £24287.11.11dBWAS-1714
3.5.17471st Battle of Cape Finisterre
7.1.1747/48Took the Privateer
La Notre Dame de Bon Voyage (Unknown) 1748-1748
French Unknown Gun
Privateer Unknown

22.11.1748Ordered reduced to a guard shipBWAS-1714
1749Guard ship at PlymouthBWAS-1714
1750Guard ship at PlymouthBWAS-1714
1751Guard ship at PlymouthBWAS-1714
1752Guard ship at PlymouthBWAS-1714
20.11.1752Paid off at Plymouth Dockyard ADM 6/18
1753Guard ship at PlymouthBWAS-1714
1754Guard ship at PlymouthBWAS-1714
4.6.1754SurveyedBWAS-1714
7.8.1754Paid offADM 51
1755fitting at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1714
27.4.1756Sailed for JamaicaBWAS-1714
1757In the Leeward IslandsBWAS-1714
1758In the Leeward IslandsBWAS-1714
1.1759At MartiniqueBWAS-1714
16.1.1759Attack on Martinique
20.1.1759Capture of Guadeloupe
2.1759At QuadeloupeBWAS-1714
22.1.1760

Paid off

ADM 51
15.7.1764SurveyedBWAS-1714
10.7.1768SurveyedBWAS-1714
10.8.1768Ordered to be broken up tor £217.12.0dBWAS-1714
21.10.1768Breaking up completed at PlymouthBWAS-1714

 
Previous comments on this page

Posted by Jon Miller on Tuesday 26th of May 2026 12:49

London, 7 December 1751: Thursday was held a Board of Admiralty, when their Lordships were pleased to appoint Captain Julian Legge, to be commander of his Majesty’s ship the Bristol, of 54 guns, at Plymouth, in the room of Capt Osborne, removed to another ship. [Kentish Post, 11 December 1751]

Posted by Jon Miller on Thursday 21st of May 2026 18:26

London, 4 January 1750: This day Mr Green, Purser of the Falmouth, was sworn in, before the Lords of the Admiralty, Purser of his Majesty’s ship the Bristol of 50 guns, one of the guardships at Portsmouth. [Kentish Post, 6 January 1750]

Make a comment about this page






Recent comments to other pages

Date postedByPage
Sunday 14th of June 2026 15:37Jon Miller
British gunboat 'Gunboat No. 10' (1797) (14) 1797-1802
British 14 Gun
Unrated Gunboat
1797 Renamed "Biter"
Sunday 14th of June 2026 15:36Jon Miller
British sloop 'Racoon' (1795) (16) 1795-1806
British 16 Gun
Unrated Sloop
Sunday 14th of June 2026 15:35Jon Miller
Lord Horatio Nelson (1st Baron Nelson of the Nile and of Hilborough)British
Naval Sailor
Service 1771-1804
Sunday 14th of June 2026 15:34Jon Miller
British hired tender 'Margaret' (1785) (4) 1785-1798
British 4 Gun
Hired Tender
Sunday 14th of June 2026 15:29Jon Miller
British hired tender 'Margaret' (1785) (4) 1785-1798
British 4 Gun
Hired Tender
Copyright © Cy Harrison 2010-2026, all rights reserved
GDPR Statement