Britannia, 1762
Type: 1st rate ; Armament 100 (28 x 42 pdr. ; 28 x 24 pdr. ; 28 x 12 pdr. ; 12 x 6 pdr.)
Launched : Portsmouth 1762 ; Disposal date or year : 1825
BM: 2091 tons
Length: 178' ; Breadth: 52" ; Depth: 21' 6" ;
Complement: 850
Notes:

Early May 1793, departed under the command of Captain John Holloway from Spithead with one 100, three 74s, and one 64 gun-ship, and two frigates, under Vice-admiral Hotham, to form the third division of a Fleet to operate in the Mediterranean.

Early Aug 1794, Britannia, Vice-adm. (w.) William Hotham, Captain John Holloway departed Bastia with Lord Hood in the Victory in pursuit of a French squadron, which sought safety of Gourjean bay. Leaving a squadron to blockade the French the Admiral returned to Corsica to continue operations. Due to stormy weather driving the British out to sea the French squadron was able return to Toulon.

9 Mar 1795, the Mediterranean fleet departed from Leghorn, sighting the French fleet the following day. At daylight on the 13th Adm Hotham sent out the signal for a general chase which ended the following day with the capture of the Ca-Ira and Censeur and the fleets heading off in opposite directions.

14 Jun 1795 the fleet, whilst on a cruise, was joined by a squadron from Gibraltar and England off Minorca.

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.

21 Dec 1796 the Tagus. The Mediterranean fleet arrived.

Circa 20 Jan 1797 departed from the Tagus with a Portuguese convoy and was subsequently, 6 Feb., joined off Cape St.-Vincent by a squadron detached from the Channel fleet.

14 Feb 1797 Jervis's action with the Spanish off Cape St Vincent.

31 Mar 1797 departed from Lisbon to blockade Cadiz.

Jun 1801-Jan 1802 in Dock at Portsmouth.

20 Mar 1803 the Prince of Wales, Britannia, Royal Sovereign, and Windsor Castle, at Portsmouth, are to be fitted for commission. Their ballast has been stowed, as has their ground tier of water, as a result of which it is said that once commissioned they can be sent out to Spithead.

12 Apr 1803 recommissioned by Lt Hickey.

20 Apr 1803 Capt Kitto has been apptd to the Britannia, and joined her whilst she is fitting out at Portsmouth.

Circa 28 May 1803 Earl of Northesk apptd in command of the Britannia.

20 Jun 1803 remained in Portsmouth harbour.

15 Aug 1803 the Dukes of York and Cambridge went on board at Portsmouth, after which they inspected the Dockyard.

19 Aug 1803 went out of Portsmouth harbour to Spithead.

3 Oct 1803 has dropped down to St Helen's.

Circa 10 Oct 1803 the Windsor Castle, Capt Bertie, has departed to take up her station at Lymington, guarding the western entrance to the Solent ; the Princess Royal, Capt Vashon, has departed to take up her position at the mouth of the Southampton River, whilst the Britannia, Capt Lord Northesk, is already at St Helen's.

Circa 5 Nov 1803 the Sophie has been ordered to join the squadron at St Helen's, which now consists of the Britannia, Lord Northesk ; and the Diana, Capt Maling.

Circa 19 Nov 1803 Mr Haggitty, clerk to the Earl of Northesk, Capt of the Britannia, apptd to be purser of the Megaera.

9 Dec 1803 the Prince George dropped down to St Helen's where she remains with the Britannia, Windsor Castle and Princess Royal.

4 Feb 1804 Admiral Cornwallis has resumed his station off Brest and has been joined by the Britannia, 100 ; Windsor Castle, 98 ; Prince George, 98 ; and Princess Royal, 98, from St Helen's.

Circa 5 May 1804 Capt T G Shortland, protempore to the Britannia.

Circa 12 May 1804 Lord Northesk is to hoist his flag on board the Britannia ; and Capt Bullen has been apptd in command of the Britannia.

Circa 23 Jun 1804 the Britannia is reported at Portsmouth, to have departed Plymouth.

Circa 27 Oct 1804 it is reported that the Channel Fleet : the Ville de Paris, San Josef, Prince, Prince George, Princess Royal, Temeraire, Windsor Castle, and Plantagenet had departed Torbay for their station, having being joined from Plymouth by the Britannia and Venerable.

11 Nov 1804 due to bad weather arrived Torbay the Ville de Paris, Adm Cornwallis, San Josef, Princess Royal, Temeraire, Impetueux, Goliath, Britannia, Plantagenet, Thunderer, and another unnamed 6 ships of the line, but by the time this paper reaches the streets, on the 19th inst., will no doubt have returned to sea.

12 Dec 1804, at Brixham, it is reported that the Channel Fleet had arrived, including the : Ville de Paris, Prince George, Defiance, Britannia, Windsor Castle, Plantagenet, Goliath, Princess Royal, Thunderer, Courageaux, Dragon, and Warrior, joining the Atlas, Temeraire, and Nemesis, which were here. No officers allowed ashore which caused some disappointment to the trades people.

May 1805 Channel Fleet.

10 Oct 1805 off Cadiz - the tactical preparations etc. for the forthcoming battle. 20 Oct combined fleet departed Cadiz, fleet manoeuvres.

21 Oct 1805 England expects�.. &c. signalled, the first shots of the Battle of Trafalgar are fired. Nelson shot. Resum� of what had taken place. Individual ship actions and losses : Britannia. The post-mortem commences ; Summary of British casualties ; Death of Nelson ;

22-30 Oct 1805 losses amongst the prizes due to bad weather etc: Redoutable, Rayo, Monarca (sank) ; Fougueux, Bucentaure, Indomptable, San-Francisco-de-Asis, Aigle, Berwick (wrecked) ; Alg�siras (taken into Cadiz) ; Santa-Ana, Neptuno (recaptured) ; Santisima-Trinidad (scuttled) ; Achille, Intr�pide, San-Augustin (burnt) ; the washup ; burial of Nelson ;

Circa 30 Jun 1806 Muster Lists terminated for 1806 ; Britannia laid up in ordinary in Hamaoze [at Plymouth].

6 Jan 1812 Renamed Princess Royal.

18 Jan 1812 Renamed St. George.

Oct-Dec 1813 converted for use as a prison ship at Plymouth.

1814 in use as a prison ship, Lt Cawkit.

Mar-Jun 1815 fitted out as Flag Ship and Guardship at Plymouth.

Mar 1815 commissioned as Flag Ship at Plymouth.

Dec 1815 paid off as Flag Ship at Plymouth.

Jun 1819 Renamed Barfleur, and remained laid up in ordinary until BU in 1825.

WMT to William James, Naval History of Great Britain 1793 - 1827, and Rif Winfield BWAS 1793-1817.