Colossus, 1803
Type: 3rd rate ; Armament 74
Launched : at Deptford on 23 Apr 1803 ;
Disposal date or year : 1826
Notes:

14-26 Aug 1803 the capture of the EIC ship Lord Nelson by the French privateer Bellone and subsequent attempts to re-take her by an English cutter-privateer ; brig-sloop Seagull and her recovery by the 74s Colossus and Tonnant.

May 1805 Cawsand Bay

20 Aug 1805 Dreadnought, Colossus and Achille, chased from off Cadiz by the Franco-Spanish fleet. 21st joined by the Mars, and was back on station once the joint fleet was in harbour.

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. Resumé of what had taken place. Individual ship actions and losses : Colossus. 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) ; Algésiras (taken into Cadiz) ; Santa-Ana, Neptuno (recaptured) ; Santisima-Trinidad (scuttled) ; Achille, Intrépide, San-Augustin (burnt) ; the washup ; burial of Nelson ;

Portsmouth 4 Aug 1806 Has gone out to the Sound, having undergone repair.

Circa 1 Feb 1808 having, due to bad weather, been unable to maintain a watch off Rochefort, R.-adm. Strachan's squadron, on being informed of the escape of the French squadron, probably bound to the Mediterranean, sailed in pursuit.

Circa 4 Feb 1808 off Ferrol, spoke Sir R King's squadron ; on the 9th was off Cadiz, passed the Rock on the following day, and joined V.-adm. E. Thornborough's squadron in Palermo bay on the 21st.

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 sailed 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 sailed for Gibraltar and Cadiz, to contribute his aid to the cause of the Spanish patriots.

Portsmouth 16 Jan 1811 Sailed for Chatham.

Deal 17 Jan 1811 Arrived from the Westward.

Deal 21 Jan 1811 Sailed for Sheerness.

Plymouth 21 Sep 1811 Arrived from the eastward.

Sheerness 19 Oct 1811 Sailed a few days since for off Brest.

Plymouth 9 Jan 1812 Came in to get fresh launches and boats to replace those destroyed in the late unsuccessful attempt in Basque Roads.

9 Mar 1812 the Tonnant, Northumberland, Colossus, and Bulwark blockading Lorient, discovered the French squadron had escaped ; sailed in search. French sighted by the Diana on the 9th and on the 10th, when she was joined by the Pompée and by Tremendous and Poictiers, but lost sight of the French in fog on the 11th.

Plymouth 23 Apr 1812 J. Salt, ordinary seaman, was sentenced to death by Court Martial for striking the Master at Arms. However, minutes prior to his execution, onboard the Colossus, a reprieve was read to the prisoner in front of the attending boats crews from the fleet.

Plymouth 18 Jun 1812 Arrived last evening, forced in by contrary winds. They will sail as soon as the wind turns fair.

Plymouth 3 Sep 1812 Arrived from the Channel Fleet.

5 Jan 1813 captured a U.S. privateer, the 12 gun Dolphin, with 56 men.

Plymouth 13 Jan 1813 Detained and sent in the Dolphin, American ship.

Plymouth 6 Feb 1813 Arrived from a cruise off the Western Islands, having captured and brought in the American ship Print, from Boston, bound to Bayonne.

Harwich 20 May 1813 Remains in Hoseley Bay.

Deal 27 Oct 1813 Sailed for off the Texel.

3 May 1814 Reports suggest that she is to be paid off at Chatham.