Thunderer, 1783
Type: 3rd rate ; Armament 74
Launched : 1783 ; Disposal date or year : 1814
BM: 1679 tons
Complement: 594
Notes:

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.

Jun 1795 departed with Commodore Sir J B Warren on the Royalist expedition to Quiberon Bay, but was ordered to join the Channel Fleet, under Lord Bridport. 22 Jun sighted the French fleet to west of Belle-Isle, and finding the French admiral had no wish for a fight, ordered the Fleet in chase and to engage as ships came up. During the chase the former British 74, Alexander was retaken, along with the French 74s Tigre and Formidable (subsequently renamed Belleisle). And so ended the Battle of the Isle de Groix.

20 Sep 1795 Lord Bridport remained with his fleet off the coast protecting the ill-conceived Quiberon Bay expeditions until 20 Sep, when he returned with 2 or 3 ships to Spithead, leaving Rear-admiral Harvey in command.

15 Oct 1795 Melampus and Latona, and later the Orion and Thalia, and later still the Pomone and Concorde, departed in chase of the two French frigates, the Tortue and N�r�ide, and the corvette Eveill�, 16. However, the closeness of the shore and prevailing weather conditions meant that the chase for the frigates was curtailed. But the Eveill� was less fortunate, and was taken by the Pomone and the Thunderer, 74, which had also appeared on the scene.

15-16 Apr 1797 St. Domingo: operation mounted to capture or destroy the French 36-gun frigate Hermione, or Harmonie.

9 May 1798 Thunderer 74, Abergavenny, 54, etc., evacuate troops from Port-au-Prince, St.-Marc, and Arcahaye, in the Island of St.-Domingo.

Between 12 Feb-30 Mar 1799 captured 2 merchant vessels whilst on the Jamaica station.

25 Feb 1800 Plymouth, letters from Jamaica, dated in December last, state the arrival at Port Royal, of Lieutenant James Wooldridge, the Officer and crew of his Majesty's late armed schooner Fox, of eighteen 18-pounders, and 75 men. She departed from Jamaica 5 Sep 1799 with General Bowles, Chief of the Creek Indians. She was destined to land him in the Gulph of Mexico, and then proceed on a cruise. The Fox touched at the Isle of Providence for a pilot, but could not procure one, and proceeded to her place of destination. On the 28 Sep the Master then sounding, and about three leagues from the shore, she struck on a sand-bank, close by a coral reef or quay, in shoal water, bilged, and fell on her larboard side. The Officers and crew remained all night in the rigging, expecting every moment she would go to pieces : to add to their distress, the boats were all stove. When morning appeared, they got out a little pork upon the reef, and fortunately every Officer and man were safe from the wreck at noon, when the Fox fell over, and went to pieces. In this melancholy situation, with a small pittance of pork per day, without any water but what they dug for in the sand, they remained 32 days without any prospect of relief. On the 33rd day they descried a sail, and making signals of distress, which were answered, the sail neared them, sent boats to the reef, which took off safe, though very weak for want of provisions. Lieutenant Wooldridge, General Bowles, and the Officers and crew. She proved to be the Providence privateer, and was on her passage to Jamaica. In the Gulph she met the Thunderer, 74 guns, Captain T. Hardy, who took the Fox's Officers and crew on board, and landed them, with General Bowles, all safe at Port Royal the first of December last. A court martial was held on Lieutenant W. his Officers and crew ; when after a minute investigation into the cause of the loss of the Fox, they were all most honourably acquitted.

Circa 1 Sep 1800 Capt. R. Mends, at Jamaica, is also promoted from the Abergavenny, 44, to the Thunderer, 74.

24 Sep 1800 Plymouth, by letters from Jamaica it is reported that the Thunderer had departed on a 12 week cruise under her new commanding officer.

Sep 1800 the boats of the Thunderer were used to rescue the crew of the Diligence, lost on a small island about 20 leagues to the west of Havana.

6 Nov 1800 a Spanish schooner, one 12-pdr., and 18 men, taken of Cuba by the Thunderer, arrived Port Royal Thursday evening.

11 Nov 1800 at Jamaica the Thunderer, Capt Hardy, when the packet Lady Hobart arrived.

11 Feb 1801 parted company with the Channel Fleet, and stood to the S.W., with a fresh wind from the Eastward. The Squadron consisted of : the Prince of Wales, 98, R.-Adm. Sir R. Calder ; Pomp�e, 80 ; Juste, Spencer, Courageux, Montague, Cumberland, 74s ; Thames, and Magicienne, frigates ; Telegraph, brig.

3 Mar 1801 at Port Royal, Jamaica when the Falmouth packet Princess Charlotte arrived from Martinique.

30 Mar 1801 the Sans Pareil, 80 ; Carnatic, 74 ; Thunderer, 74, Capt Hardy ; York, 64 ; Abergavenny, 54 ; Apollo, Nereide, 36s ; Retribution, 32 ; Bonetta, 18 ; Merlin, Albicore, 16s ; were at Port Royal, Jamaica, when the Falmouth packet Lady Francis arrived from Martinique.

13 Apr 1801 arrived and anchored in Port Royal, Jamaica, R.-Adm. Sir R. Calder's squadron, which separated from the Channel Fleet in early Feb. with a view to find Contre-amiral Ganteaume's squadron, in the West Indies, when, however, it was later discovered it was in the Mediterranean. Found here the squadron of V.-Adm. Hugh Seymour, consisting of 5 sail of the line and frigates. In entering Port Royal, the Spencer ran on one of the Knowles, but was hove off the same evening without damage. Found here also the Topaze.

18 Apr 1801 arrived the Magicienne (which parted in the storm off Cape Ortegal), with a prize corvette of 16 guns, which by mistake had attacked the Magicienne in the night. In this encounter the frigate lost 2 men, but the loss on the corvette was considerable. On entering the harbour the Magicienne ran aground and injured her copper.

19 Apr 1801 completed the squadron with provisions, &c. The Squadron consisted of : the Prince of Wales, 98, R.-Adm. Sir R. Calder ; Pomp�e, 80 ; Juste, Spencer, Courageux, Montague, Cumberland, 74s ; Supplied the squadron of Lord Seymour with several cables, boats, water casks, and volunteer marines. Also attached to his squadron the Cumberland and Magicienne ; the Thunderer being annexed to the squadron of Sir R. Calder, in want of repair. Prepared to sail, but the wind being unfavourable the squadron had one day's respite, being the first since they left England. Received here four days of fresh beef and some vegetables. Sailed the packet for England, with the Retribution frigate, formerly Hermione, to convey her through the Windward Passage. Also sailed four homeward bound merchant ships under convoy of the armed merchant ship Thetis.

21 Apr 1801 weighed and sailed, the Topaze in company with the squadron.

22 Apr 1801 off the east end of Jamaica, plying to windward.

23 Apr 1801 off the west end of St Domingo. Passed by 2 American frigates.

24 Apr 1801 came up with the packet and homeward bound ships, which sailed on the 19th.

25 Apr 1801 parted from them off Cape Nichola Mole. Parted company the Topaze.

27 Apr 1801 off Monte Christo.

28 Apr 1801 off Cape Sumana.

29 Apr 1801 made Porto Rico.

29 May 1801 arrived Spithead with dispatches from Rear-Admiral Sir Robert Calder, whom he left in the Prince of Wales, with the Pompee, Juste, Courageux, Spencer and Thunderer, to the north-ward of St. Domingo, on their passage home. The Cumberland, one of Sir Robert's squadron, was left in the West Indies, instead of the Thunderer, being so leaky, as to require her being sent home.

2 Jun 1801 arrived Spithead last night, leaky, from Sir Robert Calder's Squadron ; spoke with the Formidable in the Channel, which gave orders from the Admiralty to Sir Robert to join the Channel Fleet, which he has done with the remainder of his squadron. [There appears to be some confusion here regarding when she arrived at Spithead, but can only supply the info I have from the newspapers....looks like a case for the ship's logs.]

5 Jun 1801 under orders to go into Portsmouth harbour to be docked.

8 Jun 1801 arrived Sheerness, the Thunderer, Capt Bainton, on Monday, from the West Indies, last from Portsmouth. She came into harbour on the Tuesday, and on Wednesday (the 10th) was taking out her guns, and will then proceed to Chatham to be paid off, and her ship's company drafted.

18 Jun 1801 departed Sheerness for Chatham to be paid off.

30 Aug 1801 arrived Sheerness, from Chatham.

5 Sep 1801 Capt Ferris, late of the Hannibal, has been appointed to the Thunderer at Blackstakes (a major anchorage in the Medway).

29 Sep 1801 remains at Blackstakes.

8 Oct 1801 departed Blackstakes to the Great Nore.

13 Oct 1801 arrived Sheerness harbour, from the Great Nore, to be paid off.

18 Oct 1801 awaits a fair wind to depart for Chatham to be paid off, a strong westerly gale blowing at the present time.

Strengthened with diagonal braces.

26 Mar 1803 being brought forward for commission at Chatham.

4 Apr 1803 arrived Sheerness from Chatham the Thunderer.

10 Apr 1803 sailed from Long Reach, where she would have embarked her guns and powder, per recent instructions from the Admiralty , for the Nore.

11 Apr 1803 passed through Sheerness from Chatham and sailed.

13 Apr 1803 the Thunderer, Capt Bedford, arrived in Cawsand Bay from Sheerness.

15 Apr 1803 departed Cawsand Bay for Torbay, the Culloden, Venerable, Courageux, and Thunderer.

29 Apr 1803 as a result of the expected forthcoming collapse of the Treaty of Amiens, aka, Peace of Amiens, the following squadron was arriving from Cawsand Bay and slowly forming up off Brixham Quay, at Torbay, the Culloden, Neptune, Ardent, Albion, Courageux, Venerable, and Thunderer.

16 May 1803 Adm Cornwallis sailed on Monday from Torbay, with a squadron consisting of the following ships : Dreadnought, 98, Hon Adm Cornwallis, First Capt Murray, Second Capt Brace ; Neptune, 98, Capt Drury ; Albion, 74, Capt Ferrier ; Minotaur, 74, Capt Louis ; Ardent, 64, Capt Winthorp ; Culloden, 74, R.-Adm Campbell, Capt Lane ; Venerable, 74, Capt Searle ; Sceptre, 74, Capt Dickson ; Thunderer, 74, Capt Bedford ; and Russel, 74, Capt Williams. The Tonant, Malta, Spartiate, Plantagenet, Mars and Conqueror, lying in Cawsand Bay are nearly ready for sea, and want but few men to complete their complement.

15 Jun 1803 the Thunderer was lying in Torbay when the French vessel Rosamond, from St Domingo, and seeking a pilot, was brought into Torbay by a fishing vessel, perhaps being unaware that the French were at war again with the English and found itself a prize of the Thunderer.

20 Jul 1803 a prize to the Thunderer has arrived Falmouth, whilst she was reportedly left in chase of 5 others.

26 Jul 1803 captured the French privateer Venus, 18, 150 men, from Bourdeaux, out 5 days, after a long chase, and did not strike until several shot had been fired at her and one man was killed ; she had not taken anything.

31 Jul 1803 arrived Plymouth from the Fleet, along with her prize the Venus.

3 Aug 1803 arrived Cawsand Bay, the Plantagenet, with the Thunderer and Impetueux, but are now under orders for sea.

16 Aug 1803 the Thunderer, Capt Bedford, departed Plymouth for Cork, as guard ship ; also to embark Adm Lord Gardner. She has also been instructed to ensure that she and the other vessels operating out of Cork keep an eye on the waters to the west of Ireland, and ensure that any enemy vessels operating close in shore are intercepted wherever possible.

27 Oct 1803 the Thunderer has been joined at Bantry Bay by the Magnificent, Majestic, and Ganges, which have brought her a supply of provisions for two months.

Circa 31 Dec 1803 Capt R Thomas apptd to the Thunderer.

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.

Circa 17 Nov 1804 the Thunderer intercepted a cartel from Jamaica off Morlaix and brought the vessel into Plymouth, the 300 French prisoners on board having risen up against the crew.

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.

16 Dec 1804 R.-Adm O'Brien Drury hoisted his flag on board the Princess of Orange, and sailed as the second in command on the command on the Coast of Ireland. The Princess Royal, Goliath, and Thunderer from the Channel Squadron, and the Raisonable, Capt Barton, from Spithead, are to reinforce the squadron.

May 1805 Hamoaze (Plymouth), refitting.

15 Jul 1805 with the blockading squadron off Ferrol, under Sir Robert Calder : departed 30 to 40 leagues off Finisterre to intercept Franco-Spanish fleet from the West Indies. 22nd sighted each other. Signal made to engage the enemy - the engagement. The damage ; subsequent manoeuvres by the two fleets ; the wash-up ; 26 Jul 1805 movements of the fleet following the battle.

15 Aug 1805 Victory, with Nelson onboard, departed from Portsmouth ; was joined off Plymouth by the Ajax and Thunderer on 18th ; and arrived off Cadiz 28 Sep.

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 : Thunderer. 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 ;

12 Mar 1806 captured the Spanish privateer Santo Christo del Paldo, 14 guns, 67 men, off Cadiz.

8 Dec 1806 with a squadron under R.-adm. Sir T. Louis, anchored in Valetta harbour, and having victualled departed the 15th for Tenedos, arriving on 21st. 27th departed for the Dardanells, and anchored in Azire bay. 1 Feb the squadron returned to off Tenedos.

11 Feb-3 Mar 1807 With Sir John Duckworth on what some have described as his somewhat less than successful expedition to Constantinople. 14th anchored off Cape Janizary, ships' boats used to rescue men from the burning Ajax. 19th steered for Constantinople. 2 Mar returned to the Mediterranean.

late 1807 stationed at Palermo.

21 Feb 1808 joined in Palermo bay by R.-adm. Strachan's squadron.

2 Mar 1808 joined Lord Collingwood's squadron off the island of Maritimo. 6 Mar received news that the French fleet had been at sea for a month and departed in search, which continued for a week or two after the French fleet had returned to Toulon on 10 Apr. Leaving Vice-admiral Thornborough with a sufficient force to blockade Toulon, Lord Collingwood departed for Gibraltar and Cadiz, to contribute his aid to the cause of the Spanish patriots.