HMS Bienfaisant (1758)

"Bienfaisant" was a 64-gun ship of the line of the French Navy, launched in 1754.

She was captured by the Royal Navy on the night of 25 July 1758 during a cutting out expedition ordered by Admiral Edward Boscawen during the 1758 Siege of Louisbourg. "Bienfaisant" and the 74-gun "Prudent" were the last remaining ships of the line of the French squadron in Louisbourg harbour. "Prudent" was aground and so was burnt but "Bienfaisant" was successfully cut out by men commanded by Commander George Balfour, of HMS|Aetna|1756|6. The action was decisive moment of the siege as the fortress surrendered the next day. The captured "Bienfaisant" was commissioned as the third rate HMS "Bienfaisant". Ships of the Old Navy, "Aetna".] Ships of the Old Navy, "Bienfaisant".] She took part in the Battle of Cape St Vincent in 1780.

"Bienfaisant" was broken up in 1814.

Notes

References

*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.
*Michael Phillips. [http://www.ageofnelson.org/MichaelPhillips/info.php?ref=5013 "Aetna" (8) (1756)] . Michael Phillips' Ships of the Old Navy. Retrieved 24 November 2007.
*Michael Phillips. [http://www.ageofnelson.org/MichaelPhillips/info.php?ref=5086 "Bienfaisant" (64) (1758)] . Michael Phillips' Ships of the Old Navy. Retrieved 24 November 2007.