HMS Kent (1746)
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| Career (Great Britain) |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | HMS Kent |
| Ordered: | 10 May 1743 |
| Builder: | Deptford Dockyard |
| Launched: | 10 May 1746 |
| Fate: | Hulked, 1760 |
| General characteristics as built[1] | |
| Class and type: | 64-gun third rate ship of the line |
| Tons burthen: | 1,309 long tons (1,330.0 t) |
| Length: | 154 ft (46.9 m) (gundeck) |
| Beam: | 42 ft (12.8 m) |
| Depth of hold: | 18 ft 11 in (5.8 m) |
| Propulsion: | Sails |
| Sail plan: | Full rigged ship |
| Armament: |
64 guns
|
HMS Kent was a 64-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy. She was ordered from Deptford Dockyard on 10 May 1743 and launched on 10 May 1746.[1] Her first commander was Thomas Fox, who had previously commanded HMS Newcastle.[2]
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[edit] Chasing the convoys
In April 1747 Kent was part of a small squadron, under Fox's overall command, consisting of HMS Hampton Court, HMS Eagle, HMS Lion, HMS Chester and HMS Hector, accompanied by two fireships.[2] They cruised between Ushant and Cape Finisterre in an attempt to intercept a large merchant fleet sailing from San Domingo to France. After a month at sea, they encountered the convoy, consisting of some 170 ships, carrying a cargo of cochineal, cotton, indigo and other valuable commodities. Their escort was four French warships, who fled when the British fleet approached. Fox's squadron captured 46 merchants, and dispersed the rest. Some were later captured by smaller British warships operating in the area.[2]
[edit] Fox's court-martial
After this success Kent became part of a squadron under Rear Admiral Hawke, which was dispatched to intercept another French convoy, this time enroute to the West Indies.[2] During this period, Captain Fox's service appears to have been called into question, as Hawke requested a court-martial be brought against him. Fox was put on trial in Portsmouth on 25 November, with Sir Peter Warren presiding over it. Fox charge was then read, stating that
he did not come properly into the fight, did not do his utmost to engage, disable or damage the enemy, nor assist his majesty's ships who did.[2]
Statements were collected from the other captains involved, which served to defend Fox's personal courage. According to their version of events Fox had had the Kent engage the French ship Fougueux, followed by the Tonnant, eventually shooting away the Tonnant’s topmast. The Kent had then passed ahead of the Tonnant as her own 'braces, preventers and stoppers having all been shot away.'[2]
The trial concluded on 21 December, and found Fox guilty of leaving the engagement with the Tonnant.[2] They acquitted him of cowardice however, but declared that he had 'paid too much regard to the advice of his officers, against his better judgement'. Furthermore he, his 1st. lieutenant and his master had misread the signal for 'close action' as meaning 'proceed to assistance of admiral'. Fox was dismissed from the command of the Kent, and was later retired from the Navy at the rank of Rear Admiral in 1749.[2]
[edit] Hulking
The rest of Kent’s service is unclear, but by 1760 she had been hulked in the East Indies and no longer appeared on the navy lists.[3] At some point she seems to have been under the command of a Captain Charles Windham (or Wyndham), during which time a young William Locker served aboard her.
[edit] Notes
[edit] References
- Colledge, J. J. and Warlow, Ben (2006). Ships of the Royal Navy: the complete record of all fighting ships of the Royal Navy, Rev. ed., London: Chatham. ISBN 9781861762818. OCLC 67375475.
- 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.
- HMS Kent's career
