Audacious, 1785
Type: 3rd rate ; Armament 74
Launched : 1785 ; Disposal date or year : 1815
BM: 1624 tons
Complement: 594
Notes:

14 Jul 1793 departed with the Channel fleet from St. Helen's. On the 18th to the west of the Scilly Isles and subsequent manoeuvres.

31 Jul 1793 briefly sighted, but was unable to close the French fleet ; returned to Torbay on 10 Aug.

23 Aug 1793 the Channel Fleet departed to escort the Newfoundland trade, West Indian convoys in home waters.

27 Oct 1793 departed in search of the French fleet and squadrons. 18 Nov brief skirmish with a French squadron : by mid-December the fleet had returned to Spithead.

2 May - 1 Jun 1794 Departure of the Channel Fleet from St. Helen's, and the lead up to actions and manoeuvres with the French fleet. 25 May 1794 With the Niger frigate, sent in chase of strange vessels sighted by the fleet, which turned out to be the French 20-gun ship-corvette R�publicaine, and 16-gun brig Inconnue, which were burnt. 28 May, Engaged the R�volutionnaire. 3 Jun arrived at Plymouth.

14 Feb 1795 the Channel fleet departed from Torbay for a brief cruise and to see various convoys safe out of the Channel.

14 Jun 1795 the British fleet, then off Minorca, joined by a squadron from Gibraltar and England, including the Audacious.

8 Jul 1795, the fleet, at anchor at in San-Fiorenzo bay, once aware that the French fleet was close by, gave chase. It was sighted on the 13th and later the order was given for the general chase, but apart from the loss of a 74 by the French the result was inconclusive and resulted in not a little criticism, the consequence perhaps being Admiral Hotham's resignation on 1 Nov 1795.

6 Aug 1795, Admiral Hotham put to sea on a cruise, sighting the French fleet in Toulon road.

5 Oct 1795, a squadron under Rear-admiral Mann, including the Audacious, departed from San-Fiorenzo in pursuit of a French squadron returning from Toulon to Brest ; but too late !

24 May 1798 departed from off Cadiz with a squadron of 10 ships of the line to join Nelson's squadron in the Mediterranean, arriving 7 Jun.

7 Jun 1798 the search for the French fleet.

1 Aug 1798 the preparation for the Battle of the Nile.

1 Aug 1798 Battle of the Nile.

14 Aug 1798 the Orion, Bellerophon, Minotaur, Defence, Audacious, Theseus, and Majestic, accompanied by the prizes Franklin, Tonnant, Aquilon, Conqu�rant, Peuple-Souverain and Spartiate leave Aboukir Bay.

Mid Sep 1798 arrive Gibraltar with prizes and after making repairs sail for England leaving the Peuple-Souverain (re-named Guerrier) behind as a guard ship.

1 Jun 1799 joined Nelson's squadron off Palermo.

13 Jun-mid Aug 1799 departed from off Palermo for a cruise, arriving Naples 24th, where crews were involved in operations ashore.

Feb 1800 blockade of Malta.

18 Feb 1799 with the El Corso, took possession, by signal from Lord Nelson, whose squadron was then engaged with the Trench ; Captain Ricketts reported this ship to be the Ville de Marseilles, loaded with salt meat, brandy, wime, clothing, stores, &c. ; departed from Toulon on the 7th inst., in company with the Genereux 74, Admiral Perr�e, Badine 24, and 2 Corvettes, with 4,000 troops on board for the relief of Malta.

3 Apr 1800 in Leghorn Roads.

Circa 24 Mar to 26 Apr 1800 Admiral Lord Keith has now the chief command in the Mediterranean, and for the present has his flag flying on board the Audacious.

May-5 Jun 1800 blockade of Genoa and cutting out of the Prima galley.

15 Dec 1800 Portsmouth, arrived from the Mediterranean, last from Lisbon, with a convoy of merchant vessels.

27 Dec 1800 Portsmouth, departed for Plymouth to be paid off.

3 Jan 1801 arrived Plymouth from Portsmouth the Audacious, to be paid off.

9 Jan 1801 went up Plymouth Harbour to be paid off.

8 Apr 1801 in dock, coppered at Plymouth, and to go out of dock on the 18th instant.

17 Apr 1801 was taken out of dock this morning, and put along-side the Jetty Head, with the Namur.

27 May 1801 hauled off into Hamoaze.

1 Jun 1801 went into Cawsand Bay from Hamoaze.

2 Jun 1801 departed Cawsand Bay, for Spithead, to take in men.

4 Jun 1801 arrived Spithead from Plymouth.

5 Jun 1801 dropped down to St Helen's where she will be paid tomorrow, before departing to join the Channel Fleet.

7 Jun 1801 departed St Helen's to join the Channel Fleet.

11 Jun 1801 came into Cawsand Bay to join Rear-Admiral Sir James Saumarez's squadron.

15 Jun 1801 departed Cawsand Bay. this evening at six o'clock, the squadron under Rear Admiral Sir James Saumarez, Bart, with the Caesar, Pomp�e, Spencer, Hannibal, Audacious, Thames, Paisley, of 16, and Plymouth lugger. They are victualled and stored for five months. Their orders are not to be opened till the squadron arrives in a certain latitude. Previous to the sailing of the above squadron twenty tons of vegetables and 2000 weight of fresh beef were conveyed on board by the gun-boats.

26 Jun 1801 letters received Plymouth from an officer of the Audacious of 74 guns, dated the 26th ult., off Cadiz, state that the squadron under Rear Admiral Sir James Saumarez, Bart, was arrived on his station off that harbour to block up the Spanish squadron there, the admiral had dispatched the Admiral Paisley, of 14 guns, to Lisbon with letters for England.

5 Jul 1801 departed from off Cadiz for Algeziras roads where, on the 6th, the squadron engaged a small French squadron protected shore batteries, during which severe action the Hannibal went aground and was lost to the Spanish and French : details of casualties sustained in the action.

12 Jul 1801 departed Gibraltar to chase a Franco-Spanish squadron observed sailing from Algeziras. 12th-13th the engagement commenced resulting in the destruction of 2 first rates, and the capture of a 3rd rate.

16 Aug 1801 letters, as dated, from off Cadiz, received at Plymouth from an officer of the Thames, state that Rear Admiral Sir J. Saumarez, Bart, with seven sail of the line, two frigates, and a sloop of war, having refitted at Gibraltar, departed the 9th to block up Cadiz, and on the 10th ult. was joined by Commodore Tyler with 4 sail of the Baltic Fleet from Cork ; his fleet now consists of the following ships : Caesar, Warrior, Pompee, Spencer, Venerable, Superbe, Bellona, Defence, Russell, Audacious, Caroline, 44, Thames, 32, and Peterell, 18, all well equipped and in high spirits.

2 Sep 1801 Adm Pole in the St George, Dreadnought, Ramilies, Vanguard, Powerful and Zealous, arrived off Cadiz on 31 Aug., and on 2 Sep., in company with Sir James Saumarez's squadron, consisting of the Defence, Warrior, Spencer, Superb, Audacious, ships of the line ; and Caroline, Thames, frigates ; and sloop Peterell, began cruising before Cadiz. The Bellona was reported to be at Gibraltar fishing her main-mast.

2 Oct 1801 arrived in the Motherbank for quarantine, from Sir James Saumarex squadron, off Cadiz.

18 Nov 1801 departed Spithead the Audacious, to join the Channel Fleet.

21 Nov 1801 came into Plymouth Sound from off Cadiz, last from Spithead, the Audacious. She is to be paid wages to that part of her crew turned over from the Russel, paid off at Spithead, on Friday next, when she sails to join the fleet in Torbay.

26 Nov 1801 departed Plymouth the Audacious, to join the fleet in Torbay.

28 Dec 1801 remained with the Channel Fleet in Torbay with the Ville de Paris.

24 Jan 1802 the following ships, are to be victualled and stored for 5 months for Channel service, viz. Magnificent, 74, Capt Gifford ; Irresistible, 74, Capt Bligh ; Audacious, 74, Capt Peard ; Courageux, 74, Capt Southeby ; Robust, 74, Capt H Jervis ; Bellerophon, 74, Captain Loring, and lighters will arrive shortly at Torbay from Plymouth. The Excellent remains in Cawsand Bay and will be victualled and stored before she returns to Torbay.

2 Mar 1802 departed Torbay the Irresistible, Robust, Edgar, Audacious, Magnificent, Excellent, and Bellerophon, on a cruise, but there being little wind the exercise was performed by the various ships' boats towing them out.

Mar 1802 passed by Plymouth, to the westward, with sealed orders, the Edgar, 74, Excellent, 74, Bellerophon, 74, Robust, 74, Magnificent, 74, and Audacious, 74. They lay to becalmed with light winds off the Eddystone, but the wind freshening at N.N.W. the squadron soon made sail, and were clear of land about sunset.

17 Jun 1802 letters received Plymouth from an Officer of the Audacious, dated the 1st of May last, at Port Royal, Jamaica, advises that the squadron which left Torbay last February, arrived the latter end of March at Martinique, being only 25 days on her passage ; and found there the Saturn, 74, Rear Admiral Totty, with the Excellent, 74, and Magnificent, 74. Sailed for Port Royal the 5th of April, with the Bellerophon, 74 ; arrived at Jamaica after a fine passage, and found there Vice Admiral Duckworth, with fifteen sail of the line, besides frigates and sloops of war. The remainder part of the fleet were cruising between Jamaica and St. Domingo.

26 Jul 1802 orders came down this day for the following ships to proceed for Portsmouth, to be paid off, on their arrival from the West Indies, if they should put in here, Plymouth, by contrary winds : Leviathan, flag-ship, Excellent, Magnificent, Cumberland, Audacious, Goliath, Ganges, and Elephant, 74 each, Severn, 44, Emerald, 36, Decide, 44, Venus ,36, Andromeda, 36, Castor, 32, Heureux, 14, and Drake, 18.

21 Sep 1802 last night, after a passage of seven weeks, arrived Cawsand Bay from Jamaica, the Temeraire, 98. Rear-Admiral Campbell ; Formidable, 98, Majestic, 74, and Audacious, 74.

21 Sep 1802 160 sick men were landed and conveyed to the Royal Naval Hospital. Most of the cases were reported to be scorbutic, ie scurvy, with a few men suffering from fever.

27 Sep 1802 the Temeraire, Majestic, and Audacious lately arrived Plymouth from the West Indies, took only at Port Royal, Jamaica, eight weeks provisions and water; they were eleven weeks on their passage owing to baffling winds, and three weeks at one quarter allowance of beef, bread, and water, and when they came to in Cawsand Bay, they had scarce enough left for a days consumption.

28 Sep 1802 departed for Portsmouth, to be paid off.

30 Sep 1802 returned to Plymouth, having met easterly winds, only to find orders waiting for her to go up into Hamoaze to be paid off.

Doubled and sheathed &c.from top of side down to eight strakes under the wale and strengthened with diagonal braces

30 Jun 1803 it has been announced in the Portsmouth section of the Hampshire Telegraph for 20 Jun 1803, that prize money due to the ship's company of the Foudroyant, Northumberland, Audacious, Alexander, Success, La Bonne Citoyenne, and El Corso, for Le Genereux taken circa 18 Feb 1800, is due to be paid by Navy and Prize Agency, Messrs Mottley and Grout, at Barnard's Inn, Portsmouth. Whilst the London Gazette seems to concentrate mainly on the London Agents, and far less often on other agents based in the home ports, I thought the fact that this agent was advertising his wares, including making loans, and also where and when he was paying out prize and salvage monies &c. might be of some interest.

May 1805 Plymouth in Ordinary .

19 May 1806 departed from Plymouth as part of a squadron under R.-adm Sir R J Strachan to cruise off Madeira and the Canary islands. 8 Aug arrived Barbadoes. 18 Aug. having departed the squadron was separated by a gale.

4 Feb 1808 off Ferrol, a part of Sir R King's squadron.

28 Jul 1809 a part of a large fleet which departed from the Downs, with troops, with the aim of demolishing the dock-yards, and arsenals at Antwerp, Terneuse, and Flushing, often known as the ill-fated Walcheren Expedition. 13 Aug bombardment of Flushing.

Tagus Apr 22 1811 Remained.

Harwich Oct 25 1811 Remained.

Chatham Nov 7 1811 In Long Reach