HMS Conqueror (1801)

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Career (UK)

Name:	HMS Conqueror
Ordered:	10 June 1795
Builder:	Graham, Harwich
Laid down:	October 1795
Launched:	23 November 1801
Honours and awards:	Participated in: Battle of Trafalgar
Fate:	Broken up, 1822
General characteristics
Class and type:	74-gun third rate ship of the line
Tons burthen:	1854 tons (1883.8 tonnes)
Length:	176 ft (54 m) (gundeck)
Beam:	49 ft (15 m)
Depth of hold:	20 ft 9 in (6.3 m)
Propulsion:	Sails
Sail plan:	Full rigged ship
Armament:	74 guns: Gundeck: 28 × 32 pdrs Upper gundeck: 30 × 18 pdrs Quarterdeck: 12 × 9 pdrs Forecastle: 4 × 9 pdrs

For other ships of the same name, see HMS Conqueror.

HMS Conqueror was a 74-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 23 November 1801 at Harwich. She was designed by Sir John Henslow as part of the Middling class of 74s, and was the only ship built to her draught. Whereas the common class carried 28 18 pdrs on their upper gun decks, the middling class carried 30, and only 10 9 pdrs on their quarterdecks instead of the 12 of the common class.

She fought at Trafalgar under the command of Captain Israel Pellew, brother of Sir Edward Pellew. Pellew's captain of marines took the surrender of the overall commander of the French-Spanish fleet, Admiral Villeneuve's sword, aboard the French ship Bucentaure (80). However, he was not able to deliver the sword back to the Conqueror as she had passed on to engage another ship and it was received by the captain of Mars.

Villeneuve is supposed to have asked to whom he was surrendering. On being told it was Captain Pellew, he replied, 'There is no shame in surrendering to the gallant Sir Edward Pellew.' When he was informed that the Conqueror's captain was Sir Edward's brother, he said, 'England is fortunate to have two such brothers.'^{[citation needed]}

Conqueror was broken up in 1822.