HMS President

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Five ships and one shore establishment of the Royal Navy have been named HMS President, after the office of president meaning one who presides over an assembly. In the case of the original British ship, the name particularly applied to the Lord President of the Privy Council.

• HMS President was a 26-gun ship purchased in 1646, known as Old President after 1650, and sold in 1656.
• HMS President was a 42-gun fourth-rate ship launched in 1650, renamed Bonaventure in 1660, rebuilt 1666, and broken up 1711.
• HMS President was a 38-gun fifth-rate, originally the French La Presidente, captured in 1806, renamed Piedmontaise in 1815 and broken up the same year.
• HMS President was a 44-gun fifth-rate, originally the American frigate USS President, captured in 1815 and broken up June 1818.
• HMS President was a 52-gun fourth-rate launched in 1829, used as a drillship of the Royal Naval Reserve after 1862 and sold in 1903. She was briefly known as Old President for part of 1903.
• HMS President is the home of the London Division of the Royal Naval Reserve. It has been a shore establishment near Tower Bridge overlooking the entrance to St Katharine Docks since 1988. Ships that have been renamed HMS President whilst serving as the division's home include:
  • HMS Gannet, an Osprey-class screw sloop, launched in 1878 and renamed HMS President in 1903. She was sold in 1911.
  • HMS Buzzard, a Nymphe-class screw sloop launched in 1887 and renamed HMS President in 1911. She was lent away in 1919 and sold in 1921.
  • HMS Marjoram, an Anchusa-class sloop was to have been the next HMS President, but she was wrecked before she could be refitted.
  • HMS Saxifrage, an Anchusa-class sloop launched in 1918 instead became HMS President in 1921, serving as such until 1988.

[edit] Battle honours

• Portland 1653
• Gabbard 1653
• Scheveningen 1653
• Java 1811
• San Sebastian 1813.