HMS Edgar (1668)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Edgar.

HMS Edgar was a 72-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built by Baylie of Bristol and launched in 1668.^[1] The diarist and naval administrator Samuel Pepys visited the town during its construction, noting that in his opinion, "it will be a fine ship".^[4] By 1685 she was carrying 74 guns.^[1]

History
Great Britain
Name	HMS Edgar
Builder	Baylie, Bristol
Launched	1668
Fate	Burnt, 1711
General characteristics as built[1]
Class and type	72-gun third rate ship of the line
Tons burthen	994
Length	124 ft (38 m) (keel)
Beam	39 ft 10 in (12.14 m)
Depth of hold	16 ft (4.9 m)
Propulsion	Sails
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Armament	72 guns of various weights of shot
General characteristics after 1700 rebuild[2]
Class and type	70-gun third rate ship of the line
Tons burthen	1199 tons
Length	153 ft 6 in (46.79 m) (gundeck)
Beam	39 ft 9 in (12.12 m)
Depth of hold	15 ft 6 in (4.72 m)
Propulsion	Sails
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Armament	70 guns of various weights of shot
General characteristics after 1709 rebuild[3]
Class and type	1706 Establishment 70-gun third rate ship of the line
Tons burthen	1120 tons
Length	150 ft (46 m) (gundeck)
Beam	41 ft (12 m)
Depth of hold	17 ft 4 in (5.28 m)
Propulsion	Sails
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Armament	70 guns: Gundeck: 26 × 24 pdrs Upper gundeck: 26 × 12 pdrs Quarterdeck: 14 × 6 pdrs Forecastle: 4 × 6 pdrs

In May 1689 Edgar saw action in the Nine Years' War under the command of Cloudesley Shovell, who later became Admiral of the Fleet and after injuries in the Scilly naval disaster of 1707 he would die.^[5] During this war, Edgar was present at the first fight of the Battle of Bantry Bay when a French fleet was landing troops against King William III.^[5]

In 1700 Edgar underwent a rebuild at Portsmouth Dockyard as a 70-gun ship.^[2] She was rebuilt for a second time by Burchett of Rotherhithe as a 70-gun ship to the 1706 Establishment, relaunching on 31 March 1709.^[3]

Edgar was destroyed by fire at Spithead, Hampshire in 1711.^[3][6] All on board perished.^{[citation needed]} The wrecked was cleared in May 1844.^[6]

32-pounder salvaged in 1844, 133 years after the sinking, now on display at the Tower of London

Notes

1. Lavery, Ships of the Line vol.1, p161.
2. Lavery, Ships of the Line vol.1, p166.
3. Lavery, Ships of the Line vol.1, p168.
4. Pepys, Samuel (15 December 2000). The Diary of Samuel Pepys, Vol. 9: 1668-1669. University of California Press. ISBN 9780520227019 – via Google Books.
5. "www.kenthistoryforum.co.uk - The legacy of Sir Cloudsley Shovel". Archived from the original on 8 July 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
6. "Operations Against the Wreck of the Edgar at Spithead". The Times. No. 18612. London. 17 May 1844. col C, p. 6.

References

• 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.
• Maps made by; Heather (1797), Faden (1796), Bellin (1762)