HMS Alexander (1778)

HMS "Alexander" was a 74-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched from Deptford on 8 October 1778. During her career she was captured by the French, and later recaptured by the British. She fought at the Nile in 1798, and was broken up in 1819. She was named for Alexander the Great.

Whilst returning to England from Spain on 6 November 1794, "Alexander" fell in with a French squadron of five 74-gun ships, and three frigates, led by Joseph-Marie Nielly, and was taken by the French in the ensuing action. She was taken into the French Navy, and renamed "Alexandre". On 22 June 1795, she was with a French fleet off Belle Île when the Channel Fleet under Lord Bridport discovered them. The British ships chased the French fleet, and "Alexander" was retaken into the service.Fact|date=September 2008

"Alexander" took part in the Battle of the Nile in 1798, captained by Alexander Ball. The ship was the second ship to fire upon the French fleet, namely its flagship, "L'Orient". The "Alexander" sank three French ships, before retreating to the rear of the battle, due to a small fire on-board. The "Alexander" was one of the only ships not carrying a soldier battalion.Fact|date=March 2007

From 1803 she was out of commission in Plymouth, and was finally broken up in 1819.

Citations and notes

References

*Colledge
*Michael Phillips. [http://www.ageofnelson.org/MichaelPhillips/info.php?ref=0119 "Alexander" (74) (1778)] . Michael Phillips' Ships of the Old Navy. Retrieved 11 March 2007.
*Lavery, Brian (2003) "The Ship of the Line - Volume 1: The development of the battlefleet 1650-1850." Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-252-8.

External links

* [http://www.portcities.org.uk/london/server/show/conMediaFile.485/Launch-of-HMS-Alexander-at-Deptford-in-1778-by-John-Cleveley-the-Younger.html Picture of her launch]
* [http://rasputin.physics.uiuc.edu/~wiringa/Ships/Period1/GreatBritain/Alexander.html HMS Alexander reference]