HMS Caesar (1793)

HMS Caesar, also Cæsar, was an 80-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 16 November 1793 at Plymouth. She was designed by Sir Edward Hunt, and was the only ship built to her draught.[1] She was also one of only two British-built 80-gun ships of the period, the other being HMS Foudroyant.

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Caesar.

HMS Caesar engaging Mont Blanc at the Battle of Cape Ortegal, 4 November 1805
History
UK
Name: HMS Caesar
Ordered: November 1783
Builder: Plymouth Dockyard
Laid down: 24 January 1786
Launched: 16 November 1793
Fate: Broken up, 1821
Notes:
General characteristics [1]
Class and type: 80-gun third rate ship of the line
Tons burthen: 2002 ​74⁄94 (bm)
Length: 181 ft (55 m) (gundeck)
Beam: 51 ft 3 in (15.62 m)
Depth of hold: 22 ft 4 in (6.81 m)
Propulsion: Sails
Sail plan: Full-rigged ship
Armament:
  • 80 guns:
  • Gundeck: 30 × 32 pdrs
  • Upper gundeck: 32 × 24 pdrs
  • Quarterdeck: 14 × 9 pdrs
  • Forecastle: 4 × 9 pdrs

Service

Battle of Algeciras Bay
Caesar preparing to sail against the combined Squadron of France & Spain, meeting on the Afternoon of 12 July 1801

She was involved in the Battle of Algeciras Bay in 1801, during which her Master, William Grave, was killed[2]

Battle of Cape Ortegal
Main article: Battle of Cape Ortegal

The Battle of Cape Ortegal was the final action of the Trafalgar Campaign, and was fought between a squadron of the Royal Navy and a remnant of the fleet that had been destroyed several weeks earlier at the Battle of Trafalgar. It took place on 4 November 1805 off Cape Ortegal, in north-west Spain and saw a squadron under Captain Sir Richard Strachan in Caesar defeat and capture a French squadron under Rear-Admiral Pierre Dumanoir le Pelley.

Battle of Les Sables-d'Olonne

In 1809, she took part in the Battle of Les Sables-d'Olonne.

Fate

She was converted to serve as a depot ship in 1814, and was broken up in 1821.[1]

Notes
  1. Lavery, Ships of the Line, vol. 1, p. 183.
  2. McCarthy, The Road to McCarthy. p.10

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.
  • McCarthy, Pete (2003) The Road to McCarthy Sceptre. ISBN 0-340-76607-7.


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