Orion, 1787
Type: 3rd rate ; Armament 74
Launched : 1787 ; Disposal date or year : 1814
BM: 1646 tons
Complement: 594
Notes:

25 Aug 1793 captured the French privateer Sans Culottes on the coast of America.

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. 5 May 1794 Covered frigates looking into Brest Roads. 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.

7-21 Sep 1794 the Channel Fleet sailed from Torbay to cruise off the coast of France, but as a result of bad weather returned to Torbay.

14 Feb 1795 the Channel fleet sailed from Torbay for a brief cruise and to see various convoys safe out of the Channel.

12 Jun 1795 the Channel Fleet, under Lord Bridport, including the Orion, Captain Sir James Saumarez, sailed from Spithead for Quiberon bay. 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, sailed in chase of the two French frigates, the Tortue and Néréide, and the corvette Eveillé, 16. However, the closeness of the shore and prevailing weather conditions meant that the chase for the frigates was curtailed. But the Eveillé was less fortunate, and was taken by the Pomone and the Thunderer, 74, which had also appeared on the scene.

19 Jan 1797 detached from the Channel Fleet to Gibraltar.

Circa 20 Jan 1797 Sailed from the Tagus with a Portuguese convoy and was subsequently, 6 Feb., joined off Cape St.-Vincent by a squadron detached from the Channel fleet.

14 Feb 1797 Jervis's action with the Spanish off Cape St Vincent.

31 Mar 1797 sailed from Lisbon to blockade Cadiz.

2 May 1798 Nelson in the Vanguard sailed from off Cadiz for Gibraltar, departing that place on the 9th to the east, accompanied by the Alexander, Orion, Emerald, Terpsichore, and Bonne-Citoyenne.

7 Jun 1798 the search for the French fleet.

1 Aug 1798 the preparation for the Battle of the Nile.

1 Aug 1798 Battle of the Nile.

14 Aug 1798 the Orion, Bellerophon, Minotaur, Defence, Audacious, Theseus, and Majestic, accompanied by the prizes Franklin, Tonnant, Aquilon, Conquérant, Peuple-Souverain and Spartiate leave Aboukir Bay.

Mid Sep 1798 arrive Gibraltar with prizes and after making repairs sail for England leaving the Peuple-Souverain (re-named Guerrier) behind as a guard ship.

May 1805 Portsmouth, fitting in Ordinary.

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 : Orion. 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 ;

26 Jul 1807 sailed as a part of a fleet of 38 vessels for Copenhagen and was present from 15 Aug - 20 Oct for the siege and bombardment of Copenhagen and capture of Danish Fleet by Adm. Gambier. 1 Aug employed in the Great Belt, preventing Danish troops crossing to Zealand.

May - Oct 1808 in the Baltic with a fleet under V.-adm Sir J Saumarez.

Portsmouth 18 Jan 1811 Arrived.

Portsmouth 27 Jan 1811 The 85th Regiment embarked.

Portsmouth 30 Jan 1811 Sailed.

Portsmouth 26 Mar 1811 Arrived and at anchor at St. Helen's.

Portsmouth 27 Mar 1811 Arrived from Lisbon.

Portsmouth 29 Mar 1811 Refitting at Spithead.

Deal 24 May 1811 Arrived from Portsmouth bound to the Baltic.

Deal 26 May 1811 Sailed to join the Baltic fleet.

Wingo Sound 30 Oct 1811 Sailed with a convoy for the Baltic.

Deal 18 Nov 1811 Arrived with a convoy at the Downs.

Portsmouth 26 Dec 1811 Arrived from the Baltic.

Portsmouth 2 Apr 1812 Sailed for the Downs.

Deal 3 Apr 1812 Arrived from Portsmouth.

Deal 16 Aug 1812 Came down from the river for the Isle of France.

Portsmouth 21 Mar 1813 Sailed for Deal.