Description
Most warship construction in the 18th century was undertaken in Royal Dockyards, but there were some private yards engaged including that of Henry Adams at Buckler’s Hard on the Beaulieu River in Hampshire, England. With plentiful supplies of local oak and a hard river bank it made good foundations for building berths. The Agamemnon was launched in 1781 and coppered at Portsmouth. She was a good sailer, a characteristic that could never be predetermined. Nelson regarded her as his favourite ship. She was with Admiral Kempenfelt (on Victory) at the interception of the French fleet in the Bay of Biscay in 1781. In 1782 she fought in the 2nd Battle of Saintes under Rodney in the West Indies. In 1793 she was placed under the command of Nelson and proceeded to the Mediterranean where they took part in the blockade of Toulon under Hood. In 1794 she was at the siege of Calvi in Corsica (where Nelson lost the sight of an eye). Again at Corsica the following year. In 1797 she was involved in the great mutiny at the Nore. She fought at Copenhagen in 1801 and at Trafalgar in 1805. After a long a distinguished career on 20th June 1809 she ran aground in the River Plate in Uruguay and was wrecked.
Length: 49 m; Beam: 13.5 m; Armament: 26 x 24 pounders, 26 x 18 pounders, 10 x 4 pounders and 2 x 9 pounders.
Additional information
| Weight | 0.022 kg |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 43.1 × 35.6 cm |