DOCSLIB.ORG

Annexe 'A' Details the Service History of the HMS Foudroyant. Information

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Annexe 'A' Details the Service History of the HMS Foudroyant. Information Annexe ‘A’ Details the service history of the HMS Foudroyant. Information extracted from a number of sources including Wikipedia entries. Date Action / Location Key Personnel Feb 1758 The 80-gun ‘Foudroyant’, was captured from the French. Our HMS HMS Foudroyant was named after her. Jan 1788 HMS HMS Foudroyant ordered by the Admiralty May 1789 Keel laid down at Plymouth Dockyard Designed by Sir John Henlsow May 1798 HMS Foudroyant launched & Commissioned Under Command of Captain Thomas Byard Oct 1798 Atlantic. In Action: Battle of Tory Island (off Donegal Coast) Nov 1798 Off Cornwall. Change of Command Capt William Elphinstone Dec 1798 Gibraltar. Change of Command Capt James Richard Dacres Mar 1799 Gibraltar. Change of Command Capt William Brown Mar 1799 Off Cadiz May 1799 Port Mahon. Jun 1799 Palermo. Change of Command Capt Thomas Hardy Jun 1799 Nelson’s fleet arrived in Naples to support Emma, Lady Hamilton. Lord Neapolitan Royal family. HMS Foudroyant landed Horatio Nelson 500 Troops supporting Neapolitans. Nelson commenced affair with Lady Hamilton. HMS Foudroyant is Nelsons Flagship Aug 1799 Left Naples Sept 1799 Transported Sardinian Royal Family to Leghorn (Livorno, Italy) Oct 1799 Port Mahon. Change of Command Sir Edward Berry Palermo, Sicily Gozo, Malta Dec 1799 St Pauls Bay, Malta, landing 89 Regt Jan 1800 Palermo. Nelson hoists his flag on HMS Lord Horatio Nelson Foudroyant Feb 1800 Malta. Carrying Sicilian Troops Mar 1800 In Action: against French ship ‘Guillaume Tell’ reported Casualties 8 killed and 61 wounded. Apr 1800 Siracuse. Jun 1800 Neapolitan King & Queen on board, with Sir William Hamilton and Lady Hamilton To Livorno. Nelson lowers his flag and travels to England with the Hamiltons Sep 1800 Gibraltar. Nov 1800 Gibraltar. Change of Command. Capt Philip Beaver Dec 1800 HMS Foudroyant captured French ship ‘Hyppolite’ Feb 1801 Marmaris to Abukir Bay (Egypt) Mar 1801 General Abercromby died from wounds aboard. Following a French Counter attack at fall of Abukir Bay Alexandria Jun 1801 Change of Command Capt Wm Young Change of Command Capt T Stephenson Change of Command Capt John Clarke Searle Aug 1801 Transport of British Army to Alexandria Sep 1801 Change of Command Capt John Elphinstone Jul 1802 HMS Foudroyant ‘Paid Off’ at Devonport (Plymouth) after Treaty of Amiens brought war to an end. Jun 1803 HMS Foudroyant re-commissioned Capt Peter Spicer Feb 1804 Change of Command Capt Peter Puget Feb 1805 Change of Command Capt Edward Kendall Feb 1805 HMS Foudroyant becomes Sir Thomas Graves Flagship in the blockade of Rochefort Dec 1805 Change of Command Capt John Erskine Change of Command Capt John Chambers White Mar 1806 In Action: Capture of two French ships. Nov 1806 Change of Command Capt Richard Peacock May 1807 Capt Norbourne Thompson M\y 1807 HMS Foudroyant Flagship blockading Lisbon Jun 1808 To Rio de Janeiro arriving Aug 1808 Capt Charles Marsh Schomberg Jan 1809 Capt John Davie May 1809 Entered Rio de Plata (River Plate) Capt Richard Hancock May 1809 On convoy duty Aug 1812 Returned to England. Lay at Anchor till Jan 1815 Jan 1815 In Dock for repairs lasting 4 years. 1819 Roled as Guard Ship in Plymouth Dock until 1860 1862 Converted to A Gunnery Training Ship until 1884 1884 Dockyard duties 1891 Put on to the ‘Sales List’. Bought by J Read of Portsmouth for £2350 and quickly resold to German Shipbreakers, prompting protests. Bought back by Wheatly Cobb for use as a Boys Training ship. In order to raise £20,000 for refurbishment, the ship was to be exhibited at Seaside resorts. Jun 1897 HMS Foudroyant is towed to Blackpool Jun 1897 Wrecked on 16 Jun during a violent storm Online Sources: British Wreck site at: http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?31280 Wikipedia entry at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_HMS Foudroyant_(1798) HMS HMS Foudroyant Creative Commons Copyright Free Images http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/photos/'HMS Foudroyant' .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Victors of the Nile
    Victors of the Nile The Battle of the Nile (1 August 1798) was Nelson’s most elegant and dramatic naval victory. It wreaked a devastating impact on the French Mediterranean fleet, destroying 11 of their 13 warships, including their flagship L’Orient, which exploded at 10 p.m. in a mighty firestorm that halted the battle for ten minutes. The French were anchored at the mouth of the Nile when Nelson’s fleet found them around 5 p.m. Dividing into two lines, the Goliath, captained by Thomas Foley, led one line between the French and the shore, catching them in a pincer movement and enabling Nelson’s fleet to unleash a devastating crossfire. The English victory decisively altered the balance of power in the Mediterranean, enabling the Royal Navy to dominate it for the duration of the Napoleonic War. As Nelson said after the Battle of the Nile in 1798, ‘Victory is not a name strong enough for such a scene’. His captains are all commemorated in this celebratory engraving published five years later; Thomas Foley, Samuel Hood, Sir James Saumarez, David Gould, Ralph Miller, Sir Edward Berry, Thomas Louis, John Peyton, Henry Darby, George Westcott (killed in the battle), Thomas Thompson, Alexander Ball, Benjamin Hallowell, Thomas Troubridge and Thomas Hardy. Nelson was made Baron Nelson of the Nile, and adopted the motto Palmam qui meruit ferat (Let he who has earned it bear the Palm). Object ref PY5671 National Maritime Museum, Copyright Greenwich, London Date made 1803 Artist / Maker Robert Bowyer .
    [Show full text]
  • Murrle Bennett: the Anglo-German Style
    To print, your print settings should be ‘fit to page size’ or ‘fit to printable area’ or similar. Problems? See our guide: https://atg.news/2zaGmwp 7 1 -2 0 2 1 9 1 ISSUE 2488 | antiquestradegazette.com | 17 April 2021 | UK £4.99 | USA $7.95 | Europe €5.50 S E E R 50years D koopman rare art V A I R N T antiques trade G T H E KOOPMAN (see Client Templates for issue versions) THE ART M ARKET WEEKLY [email protected] +44 (0)20 7242 7624 www.koopman.art Coin auction houses end Murrle Bennett: the four-year joint venture are nine staff members (the by Laura Chesters Anglo-German style group has a total of 60 staff). It intends to hold its first auction Jewellery by the Anglo-German firm Murrle Bennett, London coin specialists back at 399 Strand in the which thrived for two decades before the First World Baldwin’s and St James’ autumn. War, appeals today for the reasons it did in the early 20th Auctions have ended their St James’ Auctions, founded tie-up after four years. by Stephen Fenton of century. The jewellery is good quality, effortlessly stylish The stopping of the joint dealership Knightsbridge and (in comparison with handmade or precious stone venture was without costs and Coins, will continue to be jewels of the period) relatively affordable. Stanley Gibbons Group based at 10 Charles II Street, St (owner of Baldwin’s) said it was James’s, in London. The Murrle Bennett output, which embraced all flavours a “major milestone” to “bring Alongside Fenton there are of European Art Nouveau, is a focus of this week’s coin auctions back in house nine full-time employees plus jewellery feature on pages 12-18.
    [Show full text]
  • Edward Hawke Locker and the Foundation of The
    EDWARD HAWKE LOCKER AND THE FOUNDATION OF THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF NAVAL ART (c. 1795-1845) CICELY ROBINSON TWO VOLUMES VOLUME II - ILLUSTRATIONS PhD UNIVERSITY OF YORK HISTORY OF ART DECEMBER 2013 2 1. Canaletto, Greenwich Hospital from the North Bank of the Thames, c.1752-3, NMM BHC1827, Greenwich. Oil on canvas, 68.6 x 108.6 cm. 3 2. The Painted Hall, Greenwich Hospital. 4 3. John Scarlett Davis, The Painted Hall, Greenwich, 1830, NMM, Greenwich. Pencil and grey-blue wash, 14¾ x 16¾ in. (37.5 x 42.5 cm). 5 4. James Thornhill, The Main Hall Ceiling of the Painted Hall: King William and Queen Mary attended by Kingly Virtues. 6 5. James Thornhill, Detail of the main hall ceiling: King William and Queen Mary. 7 6. James Thornhill, Detail of the upper hall ceiling: Queen Anne and George, Prince of Denmark. 8 7. James Thornhill, Detail of the south wall of the upper hall: The Arrival of William III at Torbay. 9 8. James Thornhill, Detail of the north wall of the upper hall: The Arrival of George I at Greenwich. 10 9. James Thornhill, West Wall of the Upper Hall: George I receiving the sceptre, with Prince Frederick leaning on his knee, and the three young princesses. 11 10. James Thornhill, Detail of the west wall of the Upper Hall: Personification of Naval Victory 12 11. James Thornhill, Detail of the main hall ceiling: British man-of-war, flying the ensign, at the bottom and a captured Spanish galleon at top. 13 12. ‘The Painted Hall’ published in William Shoberl’s A Summer’s Day at Greenwich, (London, 1840) 14 13.
    [Show full text]
  • War Medals, Orders and Decorations Including the Suckling Collection of Medals and Medallions Illustrating the Life and Times of Nelson
    War Medals, Orders and Decorations including the Suckling Collection of Medals and Medallions illustrating the Life and Times of Nelson To be sold by auction at: Sotheby’s, in the Upper Grosvenor Gallery The Aeolian Hall, Bloomfield Place New Bond Street London W1 Day of Sale: Thursday 3 July 2008 at 12.00 noon and 2.00pm Public viewing: 45 Maddox Street, London W1S 2PE Tuesday 1 July 10.00 am to 4.30 pm Wednesday 2 July 10.00 am to 4.30 pm Thursday 3 July 10.00 am to 12.00 noon Or by previous appointment. Catalogue no. 33 Price £10 Enquiries: James Morton or Paul Wood Cover illustrations: Lot 3 (front); Lot 281 (back); Lot 1 (inside front) and Lot 270 (inside back) in association with 45 Maddox Street, London W1S 2PE Tel.: +44 (0)20 7493 5344 Fax: +44 (0)20 7495 6325 Email: [email protected] Website: www.mortonandeden.com This auction is conducted by Morton & Eden Ltd. in accordance with our Conditions of Business printed at the back of this catalogue. All questions and comments relating to the operation of this sale or to its content should be addressed to Morton & Eden Ltd. and not to Sotheby’s. Important Information for Buyers All lots are offered subject to Morton & Eden Ltd.’s Conditions of Business and to reserves. Estimates are published as a guide only and are subject to review. The actual hammer price of a lot may well be higher or lower than the range of figures given and there are no fixed “starting prices”.
    [Show full text]
  • Elasmobranchs (Sharks and Rays): a Review of Status, Distribution and Interaction with Fisheries in the Southwest Indian Ocean
    See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: http://www.researchgate.net/publication/277329893 Elasmobranchs (sharks and rays): a review of status, distribution and interaction with fisheries in the Southwest Indian Ocean CHAPTER · JANUARY 2015 READS 81 2 AUTHORS, INCLUDING: Jeremy J Kiszka Florida International University 52 PUBLICATIONS 389 CITATIONS SEE PROFILE Available from: Jeremy J Kiszka Retrieved on: 16 October 2015 OFFSHORE FISHERIES OF THE SOUTHWEST INDIAN OCEAN: their status and the impact on vulnerable species OCEANOGRAPHIC RESEARCH INSTITUTE Special Publication No. 10 Rudy van der Elst and Bernadine Everett (editors) The Investigational Report series of the Oceanographic Research Institute presents the detailed results of marine biological research. Reports have appeared at irregular intervals since 1961. All manuscripts are submitted for peer review. The Special Publication series of the Oceanographic Research Institute reports on expeditions, surveys and workshops, or provides bibliographic and technical information. The series appears at irregular intervals. The Bulletin series of the South African Association for Marine Biological Research is of general interest and reviews the research and curatorial activities of the Oceanographic Research Institute, uShaka Sea World and the Sea World Education Centre. It is published annually. These series are available in exchange for relevant publications of other scientific institutions anywhere in the world. All correspondence in this regard should be directed to: The Librarian Oceanographic Research Institute PO Box 10712 Marine Parade 4056 Durban, South Africa OFFSHORE FISHERIES OF THE SOUTHWEST INDIAN OCEAN: their status and the impact on vulnerable species Rudy van der Elst and Bernadine Everett (editors) South African Association for Marine Biological Research Oceanographic Research Institute Special Publication No.
    [Show full text]
  • Admiral Nelson, HMS Foudroyant and the Barnard Castle Gavels
    Admiral Lord Nelson, HMS Foudroyant, Nelson of the Nile Lodge, and the Barnard Castle Masonic Gavels The Ship and Admiral Lord Nelson The name Foudroyant is French for, broadly, “thunder and lightning” and came initially from a French battleship, captured in a single-ship action in 1758 by HMS Monmouth. This 'Foudroyant' was a large and new 80-gun French flagship of a squadron under Admiral Duquesne. On 28 February 1758 she was on her way to relieve the French Commodore, de la Clue, at Cartagena when she was intercepted by Admiral Osborn with three British ships of the line, the 'Monmouth' and 'Hampton Court', both 64 guns, and the 'Swiftsure', 70 guns. The 'Monmouth' was the first of the separated British squadron to engage the 'Foudroyant', despite the disparity in force between the ships. The action began at 8.00 pm and at about 9.30 pm, the 'Monmouth's' commander, Captain Arthur Gardiner, was hit in the forehead by a piece of grape-shot. He was carried below and Lieutenant Robert Carkett assumed command. Shortly afterwards, the 'Monmouth' lost her mizzen, followed by the 'Foudroyant', which also lost her mainmast. By midnight, the Frenchman's fire had almost ceased and, on the arrival of the 'Swiftsure', which fired one broadside into her, she struck. The 'Monmouth' was unable to take possession of the 'Foudroyant' herself, since none of her boats would float and Captain Gardiner subsequently died from his wounds. 'Foudroyant' was taken into the Royal Navy after capture and during her working life was considered to be its finest two-decker.
    [Show full text]
  • Naval Officers Their Heredity and Development
    #^ fer^NTS, M^t v y ^ , . r - i!\' \! I III •F UND-B EQUEATlli:h-BY Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from Open Knowledge Commons and Harvard Medical School http://www.archive.org/details/navalofficerstheOOdave NAVAL OFFICERS THEIR HEREDITY AND DEVELOPMENT >' BY CHARLES BENEDICT DAVENPORT DIBECTOR OF DEPARTMENT OF EXPERIMENTAL EVOLUTION AND OF THE EUGENICS RECORD OFFICE, CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON ASSISTED BY MARY THERESA SCUDDER RESEARCH COLLABORATOR IN THE CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON Published by the Carnegie Institution of Washington Washington, 1919 CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON Publication No. 259 Paper No. 29 op the Station for Experimental Evolution at Cold Spring Harbor, New York : THE-PLIMPTON-PEESS NORWOOD- MAS S-U-S-A TABLE OF CONTENTS. Part i. PAGE I. Statement of Problem 1 II. An Improved Method op Testing the Fitness op Untried Officers .... 2 1. General Considerations 2 2. Special Procedure 3 III. Results of Study 4 1. Types of Naval Officers 4 2. Temperament in Relation to Type 4 3. Juvenile Promise of Naval Officers of the Various Types 6 Fighters 6 Strategists 7 Administrators 7 Explorers 8 Adventurers 8 Conclusion as to Juvenile Promise 8 4. The Hereditary Traits of Naval Officers 9 General 9 The Inheritance of Special Traits 25 Thalassophilia, or Love of the Sea 25 Source of Thalassophilia (or Sea-lust) in Naval Officers . 25 Heredity of Sea-lust 27 The Hyperkinetic Qualities of the Fighters 29 Source of Nomadism in Naval Officers 31 IV. Conclusions 33 V. Application of Principles to Selection of Untried Men 33 PART II.
    [Show full text]
  • The Professional and Cultural Memory of Horatio Nelson During Britain's
    “TRAFALGAR REFOUGHT”: THE PROFESSIONAL AND CULTURAL MEMORY OF HORATIO NELSON DURING BRITAIN’S NAVALIST ERA, 1880-1914 A Thesis by BRADLEY M. CESARIO Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS December 2011 Major Subject: History “TRAFALGAR REFOUGHT”: THE PROFESSIONAL AND CULTURAL MEMORY OF HORATIO NELSON DURING BRITAIN’S NAVALIST ERA, 1880-1914 A Thesis By BRADLEY M. CESARIO Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS Approved by: Chair of Committee, R.J.Q. Adams Committee Members, Adam Seipp James Hannah Head of Department, David Vaught December 2011 Major Subject: History iii ABSTRACT “Trafalgar Refought”: The Professional and Cultural Memory of Horatio Nelson During Britain’s Navalist Era, 1880-1914. (December 2011) Bradley M. Cesario, B.A., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. R.J.Q. Adams Horatio Lord Nelson, Britain’s most famous naval figure, revolutionized what victory meant to the British Royal Navy and the British populace at the turn of the nineteenth century. But his legacy continued after his death in 1805, and a century after his untimely passing Nelson meant as much or more to Britain than he did during his lifetime. This thesis utilizes primary sources from the British Royal Navy and the general British public to explore what the cultural memory of Horatio Nelson’s life and achievements meant to Britain throughout the Edwardian era and to the dawn of the First World War.
    [Show full text]
  • Sculptural Serenity: an Open Air Extravaganza on Blackpool’S Promenade Introduction
    SCULPTURAL SERENITY: AN OPEN AIR EXTRAVAGANZA ON BLACKPOOL’S PROMENADE INTRODUCTION When the opportunity to travel comes back into our lives in 2021, outdoor space, and the chance to explore new facets within it, are likely to be highly valued. The so-called ‘staycation’ is predicted to be the number one holiday trend this year and we may, for some time, need to do our own thing, keeping our distance from others, to keep everyone safe. If there is one thing Blackpool – and the rest of our Fylde coastline – has in abundance, it is open space. We are all said to have fallen in love with nature during lockdowns and our fabulous seafront offers every opportunity to explore its call, whether you listen to crashing waves, watch the sand change colour as the tide recedes, or pay attention to the cries of the herring gulls overhead. We reflect the colours of Blackpool within our luxury self- catering holiday apartments, using the ‘Left Coast Colour Palette’ within each one’s individual branding and interior. What we really want to do, of course, is get our visitors outdoors, exploring these for themselves and discovering new facets to Blackpool and its surrounding towns and villages. To help you do that whenever you can, whilst (for now) giving you something new to learn about Blackpool, we have put together our little guide to some stunning things, remarkable, unusual and poignant, which you can see, when you step outside our door. If you want to walk with added purpose, get carried away with your camera whilst trying to take artistic shots, or cycle and take in sea air, this guide will provide something for you to look out for, ponder, debate and discuss with the dog, perhaps, if he or she is also staying with us! We hope it will bring you some added pleasure, at a time when the outdoors and open spaces will have to continue to be our sanctuary.
    [Show full text]
  • The Path Forward a Brother's Voice Hauts Grades Academy
    February 2018 THE MAGAZINE FOR SCOTTISH RITE MASONS OF AMERICASM VOL. 49 No. 1 THE A HAUTS PATH BROTHER’S GRADES FORWARD VOICE ACADEMY by Linda Patch by Brothers across by Yasser Al-Khatib & the organization Mohamad Yatim What’s Happening CONTENTS Message from the Looking Forward Stamp Act 3 Sovereign Grand Commander 13 25 Collectanea Close-Up Hope Springs Anew A Brother’s Voice 4 From the Museum & Library 14 Livestream with SGC 26 7 The Spirit of Freemasonry 15 The Path Forward 28 Today’s Family 8 Hauts Grades Academy 19 Brothers on the Net 29 More Than Just Books Franken Manuscript / Masonic Moments Reclaiming the Soul of Scottish Rite Charities 10 20 30 Readers Respond Freemasonry 11 A Major Accomplishment 22 Book Nook 31 Et Cetera, et cetera, etc. Notes from Health Wise 12 Scottish Rite Journal 24 4 14 15 26 EDITOR SOVEREIGN GRAND COMMANDER EDITORIAL OFFICE: Alan E. Foulds, 33° David A. Glattly, 33° 33 Marrett Road (Route 2A), Lexington, MA 02421 CREATIVE DIRECTOR THE NORTHERN LIGHT (ISSN 1088-4416) Ph: 781-862-4410 • Fax: 781-863-1833 Elena Fusco is published quarterly in February, May, email: [email protected] August, and November by the Supreme MEDIA ADVISORY COMMITTEE Council, 33°, Ancient Accepted Scottish WEBSITE: Douglas N. Kaylor, 33°, chairman Rite, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, U.S.A., www.ScottishRiteNMJ.org Donald M. Moran, 33° as the official publication. Printed in Richard V. Travis, 33° U.S.A. Periodicals postage paid at Boston, Alan R. Heath, 33° Copyright © 2018 by Trustees of the MA, and at additional mailing offices.
    [Show full text]
  • Sir Anthony Laughton Interviewed by Paul Merchant
    IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NATIONAL LIFE STORIES AN ORAL HISTORY OF BRITISH SCIENCE Sir Anthony Laughton Interviewed by Dr Paul Merchant C1379/29 © The British Library Board http://sounds.bl.uk This interview and transcript is accessible via http://sounds.bl.uk . © The British Library Board. Please refer to the Oral History curators at the British Library prior to any publication or broadcast from this document. Oral History The British Library 96 Euston Road London NW1 2DB United Kingdom +44 (0)20 7412 7404 [email protected] Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of this transcript, however no transcript is an exact translation of the spoken word, and this document is intended to be a guide to the original recording, not replace it. Should you find any errors please inform the Oral History curators. © The British Library Board http://sounds.bl.uk The British Library National Life Stories Interview Summary Sheet Title Page Ref no : C1379/29 Collection title: An Oral History of British Science Interviewee’s Laughton Title: Sir surname: Interviewee’s Anthony Sex: M forename: Occupation: Oceanographer Date and place of 1927, Golders Green, birth: Northwest London Mother’s occupation: nurse Father’s furniture salesman/ occupation: businessman/antique dealer Dates of recording, Compact flash cards used, tracks (from – to): 2/9/10 (track 1-2), 21/9/10 (track 3-4), 21/10/10 (track 5-7), 29/11/10 (track 8-10), 19/1/11 (track 11-14) Location of interview: Interviewees home, Chiddingfold, Surrey Name of interviewer: Dr Paul Merchant Type of recorder: Marantz PMD661 Recording format : 661: WAV 24 bit 48kHz Total no.
    [Show full text]
  • HMS Alexander-Research
    [H.M.S. ALEXANDER’S MARINE-GRENADIERS RE-ENACTMENT UNIT (PART OF H.R.G.M)] H.M.S. Alexander 1798-1800 Andrea Portelli [13.02.2011] A short essay about the contribution by 74-Gun H.M.S. Alexander during the Mediterranean, particularly at the Battle of Aboukir Bay and in Maltese waters. Table of Contents: Origins - Page 1 H.M.S. Alexander in the Mediterranean and the Battle of Aboukir Bay – Pages 2-7 Siege of Malta – Pages 8-10 Action on 18th February 1800 – Pages 10-11 End of H.M.S. Alexander Page 12 Bibliography Page 13 1 Origins: HMS Alexander was designed by Sir John Williams and constructed at Deptford Dockyards in England. She was launched on 8th October 1778. 1 The vessel was named after Alexander the Great. HMS Alexander in the Mediterranean and the Battle of Aboukir Bay: Prior to 1798, there was no British naval activity going on in the Mediterranean. However the British authorities felt that a naval presence was necessary for many reasons; The presence of an allied fleet in the Mediterranean could have shaped diplomatic relations by coaxing Austria back into the war. Subsequently the need for the Royal Navy to sail to the Mediterranean was precipitated even further when the intelligence reports were coming in that there was a strong French army and naval presence in Toulon and the North Italian ports, with the intention of sailing to Egypt. From there the French would have marched on to India; Britain’s crown jewel and major possession in East.
    [Show full text]