HMS Kingston (1697)

HMS Kingston was a 60-gun fourth-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built by Frame in Hull and launched on 13 March 1697.[1] She had an eventful career, taking part in numerous engagements.

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

Plan of the 1719 rebuild
History
Great Britain
Name: HMS Kingston
Builder: Frame, Hull
Laid down: 1665
Launched: 13 March 1697
Out of service: Sold, 14 January 1762
Notes:
United Kingdom
Name: Lord Clive
Acquired: 1762 by purchase
Fate: Destroyed, 6 January 1763 whilst serving as the privateer Lord Clive
General characteristics as built[1]
Class and type: 60-gun fourth-rate ship of the line
Tons burthen: 923 (bm)
Length: 145 ft (44.2 m) (gundeck)
Beam: 37 ft 11 in (11.6 m)
Depth of hold: 15 ft 9 in (4.8 m)
Propulsion: Sails
Sail plan: Full rigged ship
Armament: 60 guns of various weights of shot
General characteristics after 1719 rebuild[2]
Class and type: 1706 Establishment 60-gun fourth rate ship of the line
Tons burthen: 918 (bm)
Length: 144 ft (43.9 m) (gundeck)
Beam: 38 ft (11.6 m)
Depth of hold: 15 ft 8 in (4.8 m)
Propulsion: Sails
Sail plan: Full rigged ship
Armament:
  • 60 guns:
  • Gundeck: 24 × 24-pounder guns
  • Upper gundeck: 26 × 9-pounder guns
  • QD: 8 × 6-pounder guns
  • Fc: 2 × 6-pounder guns
General characteristics after 1740 rebuild[3]
Class and type: 1733 proposals 60-gun fourth rate ship of the line
Tons burthen: 1,068 (bm)
Length: 144 ft (43.9 m) (gundeck)
Beam: 41 ft 5 in (12.6 m)
Depth of hold: 16 ft 11 in (5.2 m)
Propulsion: Sails
Sail plan: Full rigged ship
Armament:
  • 60 guns:
  • Gundeck: 24 × 24-pounder guns
  • Upper gundeck: 26 × 9-pounder guns
  • QD: 8 × 6-pounder guns
  • Fc: 2 × 6-pounder guns

Career
Wager's Action off Cartagena, 28 May 1708

During the War of Spanish Succession, Kingston took part in the engagements of Gibraltar (1704) under the command of Edward Acton, Vélez Málaga (1709) and Gaspé (1711).

She was present at Wager's Action a naval confrontation on 8 June 1708 N.S (28 May O.S.), between a British squadron under Charles Wager and the Spanish treasure fleet, as part of the War of Spanish Succession.[4]

She was rebuilt for the first time according to the 1706 Establishment at Portsmouth Dockyard, and relaunched on 9 May 1719.[2] She was rebuilt for a second time at Plymouth according to the 1733 proposals of the 1719 Establishment, and relaunched on 8 October 1740.[3] Kingston was present at the Battle of Toulon in 1744.

During the Seven Years' War, the ship was part of Admiral John Byng's squadron sent to relieve Fort St. Philip (Port Mahon) in 1756, besieged by a French amphibious force who had invaded the island of Menorca (historically called "Minorca" by the British). The squadron set sail from England on 10 April. On 2 May, it arrived at Gibraltar, departing on 8 May. On 19 May, it came into sight of Fort St. Philip. The French fleet then advanced to meet Byng. On 20 May, the squadron fought the Battle of Menorca where several British ships were seriously damaged but none was lost on either side. On 24 May, after a council of war, Byng gave orders to return to Gibraltar, abandoning Menorca to its fate. The squadron arrived at Gibraltar on 19 June.

In 1757, the ship was part of Admiral Holbourne's squadron which left Ireland on 5 May for the planned expedition against Louisbourg. By 10 July, the entire squadron was finally at anchor before Halifax where it made its junction with Hardy's squadron. However, in August, when the combined fleet was ready to set sail, Louisbourg had already been reinforced by three French squadrons and Governor Loudon cancelled the whole enterprise. Holbourne's squadron stayed off Louisbourg until 25 September when it was dispersed by a storm, forcing it to return to Great Britain in a very bad condition. On 20 November 1759, Kingston took part in the Battle of Quiberon Bay where the French navy suffered a great defeat.

As Lord Clive

The ship was sold to privateers linked to the East India Company on 14 January 1762 and renamed Lord Clive.

The same year during the Spanish-Portuguese War, 1761-1763, these privateers, fighting on the side of Portugal, had plans to conquer Spanish territory in South America and organised a raid on Buenos Aires and Montevideo.
Their squadron, under the command of Robert McNamara from the East India Company, consisted of Lord Clive (60), Ambuscade (40), two Portuguese ships (among which were the frigate Gloria (38)) transporting 500 infantry, and five storeships. On 2 November, the squadron sailed from Rio de Janeiro towards the mouth of the Río de la Plata but soon abandoned the project because Spanish defenders in both cities were fully alerted and well prepared.

On 6 January 1763, McNamara decided to attack and retake Colonia do Sacramento also in Spanish hands. 60-gun Lord Clive and the 40-gun HMS Ambuscade, along with 38-gun Portuguese Gloria, anchored near the city and started bombardment, but they received unexpected strong resistance from the city's gun battery. After three hours of an exchange of fire, a fire developed on Lord Clive that quickly progressed until it reached her magazine, which exploded, sinking her. There were 272 fatalities on board, including McNamara. HMS Ambuscade and Gloria were badly damaged too, and retired from combat.

Notes
  1. Lavery, Ships of the Line vol.1, p163.
  2. Lavery, Ships of the Line vol.1, p168.
  3. Lavery, Ships of the Line vol.1, p171.
  4. "Wager's Action off Cartagena, 28 May 1708". Royal Museums Greenwich. Retrieved 19 March 2019.

References
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