HMS Weymouth (1795)

HMS Weymouth was laid down as the East Indiaman Earl of Mansfield. The British Royal Navy purchased her on the stocks to use as a 56-gun fourth rate. She was launched in 1795 but never was commissioned in the Royal Navy. She was transferred in February 1796 to the Transportation Board as a transport. Lieutenant Robert Passmore took command in June 1796. Commander Charles Ryder succeeded Passmore in July 1798, and Commander Ambrose Crofton replaced Ryder in August 1799.

History
Great Britain
Name:	Earl of Mansfield
Operator:	East India Company
Builder:	Wells & Co. Rotherhithe
Fate:	Sold on stocks to Royal Navy
Great Britain
Name:	HMS Weymouth
Builder:	Wells & Co. Rotherhithe
Launched:	30 September 1795
Acquired:	By purchase on the stocks
Commissioned:	Never
In service:	1796
Fate:	Wrecked 21 January 1800
General characteristics [1]
Class and type:	Fourth rate
Tons burthen:	1416,[2] or 1433​^56⁄94 (bm)
Length:	175 ft 6 in (53.5 m) (overall) 144 ft 1 in (43.9 m) (keel)
Beam:	43 ft 3 in (13.2 m)
Depth of hold:	19 ft 7 in (6.0 m)
Propulsion:	Sails
Sail plan:	Full-rigged ship
Complement:	344 (Fourth rate)
Armament:	Fourth rate: Lower deck (LD):28 × 18-pounder guns Upper deck (UD): 28 x 32-pounder carronades Transport: 26 guns

Having sailed from Portsmouth, she was wrecked on 21 January 1800 on the bar in the Tagus on the coast of Portugal as Crofton was attempting to sail her into Lisbon harbour.[3] Her crew was saved.[4]

Citations and references

Citations

1. Winfield (2008), p. 113.
2. Hackman (2001), p. 99.
3. Hepper (1994), p. 94.
4. Lloyd's List №4027.

References

• Hackman, Rowan (2001). Ships of the East India Company. Gravesend, Kent: World Ship Society. ISBN 0-905617-96-7.
• Hepper, David J. (1994). British Warship Losses in the Age of Sail, 1650–1859. Rotherfield: Jean Boudriot. ISBN 0-948864-30-3.
• Winfield, Rif (2008). British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793–1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth. ISBN 978-1-86176-246-7.