Puissant, 1793->1816
Type: 3rd rate ; Armament 74
Taken : from the French 1793 ; Notes:

18 Dec 1793 Taken at Toulon, to Portsmouth and remained there.

1 Jan 1799 receiving hulk at Portsmouth ; G. A. Allen.

6 Dec 1799 Portsmouth the Goliath, 74, is paid off and her crew turned over to the Royal William and Puissant at Spithead.

2 Jul 1800 Portsmouth, a Court Martial was held on board the Gladiator, for the trial of John Duncan, late a seaman belonging to HM late ship Hermione, for having murdered the Officers of the said ship, or being aiding and assisting therein ; and for having aided and assisted in carrying the said ship to La Guira, and delivering her up to the enemy. The Court were of opinion, that the charges had been proved against the said John Duncan, and did adjudge him to suffer death, by being hanged by the neck on board such ship of his Majesty and at such time and place, as the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty should direct. On the 10th he was executed on board the Puissant, agreeably to the sentence of the Court. About a quarter of an hour before he was turned off. he addressed the ship's company, and said how justly he was condemned for being concerned in one of the worst of crimes, and warned them from ever being concerned in such an act of atrocity.

7 Aug 1800 Portsmouth, at nine o'clock, a gun was fired on board the Royal William, at Spithead, and the yellow flag hoisted as a signal for executing J. Watson and and J. Allen, who were condemned by a Court Martial as being concerned in the mutiny on hoard the Hermione. The signal being repeated, the yellow flag was hoisted on board the Puissant at Spithead, and the Braakel in the harbour, on board which ships they were executed, boats from all the ships at Spithead, manned and armed with marines, attended the Puissant as those in the Harbour did the Braakel.

14 Nov 1800 Portsmouth a Court-Martial was held on board the Gladiator for the trial of William Ellis, who was taken as one of the crew onboard L'Eole French privateer, at her capture on the 27 June last, by the Dryad and sent to Spithead in the Serpent sloop, and who turned out to be a subject of this country, and had deserted from the Fame prison ship in December, 1798. The Court being of opinion that the charges had been proved against the prisoner, did therefore adjudge him to suffer Death, by being hanged on board such of his Majesty's ships at Spithead as the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty should direct. On the morning of the I7th the above unhappy man was executed on board the Puissant, at Spithead, pursuant, to his sentence.

14 Jun 1801 remains at Spithead.

1 Jul 1801 a Court Martial was held, on board his Majesty's ship Gladiator, in Portsmouth harbour, for the trial of Adiel Powelson, alias Henry Poulson, and William Johnson, late of the Hermione, on charges of aiding in the murder of their officers, on board the said ship, and carrying her into La Guira. Poulson being found guilty of both charges, and Johnson of the latter, they were sentenced to be Hanged, Poulson being executed, on board the Puissant, the 14th inst. pursuant to the above sentence. But Johnson has been since pardoned.

Circa 26 Dec 1801 Mr. Macbean is appointed Purser of the Puissant, vice Hope, deceased.

5 May 1802 lying as a guardship at Spithead, is ordered to be paid off.

24 Mar 1803 officers have been appointed to the Puissant.

25 Mar 1803 is fitting for the flag of Lord Gardner, the Neptune being ordered to Cawsand Bay, where a squadron is to assemble for cruising in the Channel. Lieutenants Morris and Lovell are apptd to the Puissant ; Lieut R. Parry to be Adm Holloway's flag officer (aka these days as a flat lieut).

28 Mar 1803 was commissioned as a receiving ship at Portsmouth, Lieut Morris for the present in command.

10 Apr 1803 has gone out of harbour to Spithead.

7 May 1803 the Grampus being under orders for the Downs, Adm Gardener has shifted his flag to the Puissant.

Circa 12 Sep 1803 the wife of a seaman belonging to the Puissant, lying at Spithead, whilst embarked on a coastal vessel from the Downs, with a view to seeing her husband, had not been on board the ship an hour when she was delivered of 2 fine children, all doing well. However, the mother was unprepared for the event and was not carrying the necessaries for such a happening, but Capt Irwin in command of the vessel organised a collection amongst the officers to provide for what she needed.

Circa 17 Oct 1803 Lieut Wills of the Puissant, apptd to the Ant schooner, vice Carpenter, indisposed.

Circa 27 Oct 1804 remains at Spithead.

1805 at Spithead.