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Defiance, 1783
Type: 3rd rate ; Armament 74
Launched : 1783 ;
Notes:
20 May 1799 joined the fleet in the Mediterranean off Minorca and anchored in Port-Mahon that evening and sailed on 22 on a cruise.
Circa 12 Mar 1801 fleet under Admiral Sir Hyde Parker sailed from Yarmouth roads for Copenhagen. 30 Mar the vessels initially detailed to take part in the forthcoming Battle of Copenhagen. 1 Apr the vessels detailed sail for Copenhagen ; the British ships held in reserve ; the Danish positions : 2 Apr the battle commences : the truce : the casualties : the wash-up :
12 Apr 1801 the fleet sailed from Copenhagen into the Baltic.
20 Jul 1802 head money for those present at the Engagement at Copenhagen, on the 2d April 1801, due for payment.
15 Jul 1805 with the blockading squadron off Ferrol, under Sir Robert Calder : sailed 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.
7 Oct 1805 joined the fleet off Cadiz from England.
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 : Defiance.
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 ;
25 Oct 1805 Aigle drifted into Cadiz bay despite the best efforts of the Defiance.
23 Feb 1809 Amethyst observes M. Willaumez's French squadron abreast of the Tour de Baleine and signalled Rear-admiral Stopford's squadron, consisting of the Cæsar, Defiance, and Donegal, who went in chase of the French, and watched them entering Basque road on the 24th and despatched the frigate Naïad to inform Lord Gambia.
24 Feb 1809 Naïad observed 3 suspicious sail coming down from the northward and signalled Rear-admiral Stopford's squadron accordingly : leaving the Amethyst and Emerald to watch Basque road, the squadron sailed in search of the approaching vessels.
24 Feb 1809 Amelia and Dotterel in chase of a French frigate squadron, who on sighting Rear-admiral Stopford's squadron steered for the Sable d'Olonne where they came to anchor. Following a heavy bombardment the French ships were driven on shore and were subsequently wrecked.
24 Feb 1809 later that day Rear-admiral Stopford's squadron returned to his station off the Chasseron lighthouse, and observed the squadron of M. Willaumez at anchor in Basque roads, and was joined on the 25th by Captain Beresford and his three ships, with his force thus augmented to seven sail of the line and five frigates, resumed the blockade of the port, with the Hero joining shortly afterwards.
7 Mar 1809 Rear-admiral Stopford's squadron was relieved by Admiral Lord Gambier, making 13 sail of the line, until the Defiance and Triumph parted company.
Portsmouth 21 Jan 1811 Arrived from the Downs.
Harwich 22 Apr 1811 Remains in Hoseley Bay.
Deal 31 Jul 1811 Sailed for off Flushing.
Deal 16 Oct 1811 Is off the North Foreland, and expected to arrive in the Downs this evening.
Deal 5 Nov 1811 Remains in the Downs, due to adverse winds.
Deal 23 Nov 1811 Sailed for Portsmouth.
Deal 7 Sep 1813 Sailed to the Nore.
1813 Hulked