HMS Royal James (1658)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Career (England)

Name:	Richard
Builder:	Christopher Pett, Woolwich
Launched:	1658
Renamed:	HMS Royal James
Fate:	Burnt by the Dutch, 1667
General characteristics ^[1]
Class and type:	70-gun second rate ship of the line
Tons burthen:	1,108 long tons (1,125.8 t)
Length:	124 ft (37.8 m) (keel)
Beam:	41 ft (12.5 m)
Depth of hold:	18 ft (5.5 m)
Propulsion:	Sails
Sail plan:	Full rigged ship
Armament:	70 guns of various weights of shot

For other ships of the same name, see HMS Royal James.

Richard was a 70-gun second rate ship of the line of the navy of the Commonwealth of England, built by the Master Shipwright Christopher Pett at Woolwich Dockyard, and launched in 1658. She was named after Richard Cromwell, to honour his appointment as the Protector in succession to his later father Oliver Cromwell.^[1]

After the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660, her name was changed to HMS Royal James, and she was re-registered with the new English Royal Navy, but amended to a First Rate. This involved adding gunports in the waist on the upper deck, where previously she had carried no guns, and consequently her rating was raised to 82 guns. She was present at the raid on the Medway in 1667, where first she was sunk to prevent capture, and then burnt by Dutch fireships.^[1]