Royal Sovereign, 1786
Type: 1st rate ; Armament 100
Launched : Plymouth in 1786 ; Disposal date or year : 1841
BM: 2175 tons
Complement: 866
Notes:

14 Jul 1793 sailed with the Channel fleet from St. Helen's. On the 18th to the west of the Scilly Isles and subsequent manoeuvres.

31 Jul 1793 briefly sighted, but was unable to close the French fleet ; returned to Torbay on 10 Aug.

23 Aug 1793 the Channel Fleet sailed to escort the Newfoundland trade, West Indian convoys in home waters.

27 Oct 1793 sailed in search of the French fleet and squadrons. 18 Nov brief skirmish with a French squadron : by mid-December the fleet had returned to Spithead.

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. 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.

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

30 May 1795 a squadron under Vice-adm. Hon. Wm. Cornwallis sailed from Spithead on a cruise off Ushant. Brief meeting, on 8 Jun off Belle-Isle, of Vice-adm Cornwallis' squadron with French Squadron under Rear-admiral Vence, with a convoy, during which 8 merchant vessels were taken when the French squadron escaped into harbour.

16 Jun 1795 on returning off Belle-Isle Vice-adm. Cornwallis' squadron of 5 ships of the line, including the Royal-Sovereign, Vice-adm. (b.) Hon. Wm. Cornwallis, Captain John Whitby, sighted a French Squadron of 12 ships of the line under the command of M. Villaret : on this occasion it was the turn of the British squadron to attempt to escape the advancing French fleet.

15 Apr - 15 May 1797 Mutiny at Spithead for improved pay and victuals etc. See p. 523-> www.naval-review.org/issues/1927-3.pdf.

16 Jan 1799, arrived Spithead.

19 Mar 1799, at Portsmouth, in dock.

13 Apr 1799, Portsmouth, went out to Spithead.

5 May 1799, arrived in Cawsand Bay from Spithead.

7 May 1799, remains in Cawsand Bay.

10 May 1799, Plymouth, sailed last night with the Atlas, for the fleet.

8 Jun 1799, Plymouth, reports received here advise that 16 ships of the line and 4 frigates were detached by Lord Bridport for the Straits.

Circa late Jun 1799 arrived in the Tagus from the Channel Squadron to take a convoy and prizes to the England.

13 Jul 1799, Plymouth, arrived this morning from off the Rock of Lisbon, the Royal Sovereign, Caesar, Russell, with five of Lord Nelson's prizes, viz. La Tonant 84, Canopus 84, Spartiate 74, Aboukir 74, and Conquerant 74.

14 Jul 1799, Portsmouth, arrived at Spithead, the Magnificent, 74, with a convoy from Lisbon. She sailed on the 17 Jun in company with the Royal Sovereign, Caesar, Russell, Aimable, a sloop, and five of Lord Nelson's prizes ; L'Aimable and the sloop escorted the trade to Liverpool, &c

2 Aug 1799, Plymouth, V.-Adm. Gardner struck his flag on board the Royal Sovereign, 110, in Cawsand Bay, and went to Bath for the recovery of his health.

23 Mar 1800, Plymouth, came in from off Brest.

20 Apr 1800, Plymouth, sailed for Torbay.

Circa Jun 1800 George Grant, Esq. Secretary to Admiral Sir Alan Gardner, and Purser of the Royal Sovereign, has resigned those situations ; he is succeeded by John Scott, Esq. Purser of the Formidable, 98, to which ship D. A. Hemsworth, Esq. is appointed his successor.

1 Aug 1800, Plymouth, arrived from the fleet.

22 Aug 1800, Plymouth, Admiral Sir A. Gardner, struck his flag on board the Royal Sovereign, 110, and set off this morning to pay his respect to their Majesties at Weymouth. He is to succeed Admiral Kingsmill on the Irish station.

30 Aug 1800, Plymouth, V.-Adm. Sir H. Harvey, Bart., hoisted his flag in Cawsand Bay.

5 Sep 1800, Plymouth, sailed from Cawsand Bay.

Circa 1 Nov 1800, Lieutenant E. Kindall, late First of the Royal Sovereign, is made Master and Commander.

3 Feb 1803 Sailed for the Mediterranean.

May 1803 in the Mediterranean.

15 Mar 1804 joined the Mediterranean fleet. 3 Apr sailed from Sardinia to cruise with the fleet on the French coast until returning briefly to the Magdalena islands from 11 to 19 May.

19 Jul 1804 following the receipt of supplies from England the fleet sailed for the gulf of Palma to store ship ; returned 26 Aug.

19 Jan 1805 whilst watering at Agincourt sound the Mediterranean fleet was informed that the Toulon fleet was at sea, and sailed in search. It was discovered on 14 Feb that the French fleet had returned to Toulon.

28 Mar 1805 victualled at Palma and on the 3 Apr sailed to water at Pulla bay, but on the 4th received the signal from the Phoebe that the Toulon fleet was at sea again : the search began again. 4 May, having heard that the Toulon fleet had passed through the Straits on 8 Apl, the fleet anchored at Mazari bay to water. Following a change in the wind the fleet sailed on 5 May, the Superb leaving her cargo of cattle and vegetables etc. on the beach. 7 May 1805, at Gibraltar : on Nelson's departure Rear-admiral Sir R Bickerton was left in charge of the Mediterranean, and shifted his flag from the Royal-Sovereign to the Amfitrite.

12 May 1805 detached to a troop convoy to add additional protection whilst proceeding though the Straits whilst Nelson and his fleet sailed for Madeira and the West Indies.

9-13 Oct 1805 joined the fleet off Cadiz.

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. Royal-Sovereign ; ship actions and losses. 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 ;

22 Oct 1805 Euryalus transferred the tow of the Royal-Sovereign to the Neptune.

21 Feb 1808 joined in Palermo bay by R.-adm. Strachan's squadron.

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.

24 June 1811 Reported to be off Toulon.

18 Jul 1811 off Toulon.

Plymouth 2 Dec 1811 Arrived from off Toulon and now under quarantine.

Plymouth 6 Dec 1811 Released from quarantine and is to be docked.

Plymouth 8 Dec 1811 To sail to Portsmouth this morning.

Plymouth 1 Apr 1812 Came down the harbour and anchored in Cawsand Bay after having been docked and refitted.

Plymouth 26 Jun 1813 Arrived from a cruise.

Plymouth 24 Jul 1813 Came in from off Brest.

Plymouth 26 Jul 1813 Arrived Saturday last, from the Channel fleet, drifted on the Black Rocks a few days since, and sustained considerable damage, which obliged her to return to this port.

Portsmouth 26 Jan 1814 Arrived from Plymouth.

Portsmouth 2 Mar 1814 Is ordered to sail with the Mediterranean convoy.

Portsmouth 5 Mar 1814 Sailed with a convoy for the Mediterranean.

Plymouth 2 Sep 1814 Is reported to have been paid off.

1825 Royal Sovereign renamed Captain.