Marlborough, 1767
Type: 3rd rate ; Armament 74
Launched : 1767 ; Disposal date or year : 4 Nov 1800
Disposal Details : Wrecked on a sunken rock near Belleisle crew saved ; Captain Thomas Sotheby. See Ship notes.
BM: 1642 tons
Complement: 594
Notes:

1780 Rodney's victory off Cape St Vincent over Spanish

1782 Rodney's victory over French under Comte de Grasse

27 Oct 1793, joined the Channel Fleet and 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. 28 May, ordered to reconnoitre the strange fleet, reported by the frigates, to be approaching the British fleet. 29 May - 1 Jun., what was to be known as the Battle of the Glorious 1st June commences, resulting in the capture of six sail of the line and one sunk. Review of the part performed by each British ship engaged. 13 Jun, the fleet arrived back in home ports.

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

21 Dec 1796 chased a part of French squadron from Toulon.

15 Apr - 15 May 1797 Mutiny at Spithead for improved pay and victuals etc. See also p. 520-522-> www.naval-review.org/issues/1927-3.pdf.

5 Dec 1798 with the squadron off Cadiz.

3 May 1799 prepared for action on receipt of news that the French fleet had escaped from Brest and was heading towards Cadiz. The French were sighted the following day, but stood on for the Mediterranean.

10 May 1799 arrived with the fleet at Gibraltar, and having watered and victualled departed for the Mediterranean.

20 May 1799 anchored in Port-Mahon : departed on 22nd on a cruise.

25 Aug 1799 arrived Cawsand Bay, from Torbay, the Bellona, Montague, and Marlborough.

1 Oct 1799 Plymouth, departed on a cruise.

4 Jan 1800 Plymouth, arrived from the Channel Fleet. She was ten days beating up Channel against the strong easterly winds.

10 Feb 1800 Plymouth, went into dock to refit.

20 Apr 1800 Plymouth, departed with the Magnificent, to join the Channel fleet.

24 Apr 1800 Torbay, departed with the Channel Fleet, under the command of Sir Alan Gardner.

15 Jun 1800 Plymouth, arrived with the Centaur, 74, from the fleet, having run foul of each other last Tuesday off the Black Rock ; the Marlborough sprung her fore-mast, and the Centaur had her bowsprit carried away.

22 Jun 1800 Plymouth, a.m., the Marlborough, 74 guns, made the signal for assistance to go into the harbour, which was answered by the Port Admiral and all the fleet, whose boats proceeded to tow her up into Barn Pool, where she arrived at four p.m.

13 Jul 1800 Plymouth, departed to join the fleet with the Temeraire.

6 Sep 1800 Plymouth, letters from the fleet off Brest, dated Black Rocks, the 2d inst. state that R.-Adm. Sir R. Calder, Bart, is appointed to the command of the in-shore or flying squadron, consisting of the Caesar, 84, Excellent 74, Marlborough 74, Defence 74, and Elephant 74.

19 Sep 1800 Plymouth, Letters from the Caesar, 84, of 16th, state, that she, with the Excellent, 74 ; Marlborough, 74 ; Elephant, 74 ; and Defence, 74, composing the squadron off the Black Rocks, were all well. They had taken possession of a small island about two miles from the coast, where there was plenty of game, rabbits, pigeons, &c. which, with fish and vegetables, affords, them many comforts.

27 Sep 1800 Plymouth, arrived from off Brest, and anchored in Cawsand Bay, owing to very heavy S. W. gales, the Temeraire, 98, Namur, 98, Prince, 98, Barfleur, 98, Royal George, 110, Neptune, 98, Juste, 84, Russel, 74, Mars, 74, Marlborough, 74, Defence, 74, Elephant, 74, Excellent, 74.

3 Oct 1800 Plymouth, arrived from Cawsand Bay.

21 Oct 1800 the Montague, Magnificent, Marlborough, and Lord Nelson Cutler captured 1 small French Vessel, marked Letter F.

23 Oct 1800 the Montague, Marlborough, and Lord Nelson, Cutter captured La Marquireto.

4 Nov 1800 loss of the Marlborough, 74, when in company with the Captain, 74, off the coast of France.

17 Nov 1800 Plymouth, arrived the Amity Danish brig, from Malaga, detained by the Captain, 74 ; she brought Lt. Williams and twenty men of his Majesty's late ship Marlborough, 74, shipwrecked on a ledge of rocks near Isle Grouat, in a violent gale of wind, on the night of the 4th inst. Dreadful was their situation for several hours, in a perfect hurricane, the sea making a clear breach over her. But by throwing her guns overboard, and clearing the wreck, she lightened a little, yet still stuck fast in a kind of cove on some sharp rocks. In the morning, the boats of the Captain, the weather having moderated, pushed through the surf with great perseverance and gallantry, and, fortunate to relate, brought off safe to her all the Officers and crew ; Lieutenant W. and 20 men were put on board the Dane, and suffered extreme hardships for eleven days previous to their arrival here. The Marlborough went to pieces soon after they left her. On the arrival of the Amity, Mr. P. Symons, merchant and broker, waited on Admiral Sir T. Pasley, who directed Captain Wickey to send off two gun-boats to relieve them from their unpleasant situation, having been on board the Dane 12 days on the deck, in shocking weather, and not able to take off their clothes. Fresh provisions were also sent to them ; and they are now performing quarantine till they receive prattique.

17 Nov 1800 ships' boats, including officers and men from the Marlborough, destroy French 20-gun ship-corvette R�olaise in Port Navalo and capture a merchant vessel.

1 Dec 1800 Plymouth, letters from the squadron off the Black Rocks, dated the 27th ult. state, that to the 27th no movements had been made by the combined fleets, and that the Canada, 74, is to take the Marlborough's late station.

2 Jan 1801 a Court of Inquiry was held on board HM ship Gladiator, at Portsmouth on Captain Sotheby, and the other Officers and crew of HM late ship Marlborough, for her loss. The sentence of the Court was, that they were of opinion her loss was occasioned by her striking on the Bervadeux Shoals, on the coast of France ; which accident happened from the uncertain situation of the rocks, and Capt. Sotheby's anxiety and zeal to carry his orders into execution, and being thereby so disabled, as to render it impossible to save her : that no blame was imputable to Captain Sotheby, his Officers, or ship's company, for their conduct on that occasion ; and that they afterwards did their utmost to preserve the ship and her stores.