View source for HMS Foudroyant (1798)

{{short description|Ship of the line of the Royal Navy}}
{{other ships|HMS Foudroyant}}

{{Use British English|date=November 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=The capture of the Guillaume Tell.jpg
|Ship caption=''Capture of the [[French ship Guillaume Tell (1795)|Guillaume Tell]]'' 31 March 1800, by [[Nicholas Pocock]]. ''Foudroyant'' is seen centre right
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=Great Britain
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Kingdom of Great Britain|naval}}
|Ship name=HMS ''Foudroyant''
|Ship ordered=17 January 1788
|Ship builder=Plymouth Dock
|Ship laid down=May 1789
|Ship launched=31 March 1798
|Ship acquired=
|Ship commissioned=
|Ship decommissioned=
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=
|Ship renamed=
|Ship struck=
|Ship reinstated=
|Ship honours=*[[Naval General Service Medal (1847)|Naval General Service Medal]] with clasps:
*"12th October 1798"<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=20939|page=239|date=26 January 1849}}</ref>
*"Egypt"<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=21077|pages=791–792|date=15 March 1850}}</ref>
|Ship captured=
|Ship fate=Sold 1890. Foundered on [[Blackpool Sands, Blackpool|Blackpool Sands]], 16 June 1897.
|Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=<ref name="Lavery, SoLv1 p183">Lavery, Ships of the Line, vol. 1, p. 183.</ref>
|Ship class=80-gun [[third rate]] 
|Ship tons burthen={{frac|2054|65|94}} ([[Builder's Old Measurement|bm]])
|Ship length={{convert|184|ft|8+1/2|in|m|abbr=on}}(gundeck)
|Ship beam={{convert|50|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}} 
|Ship draught={{convert|23|ft|m|abbr=on}} 
|Ship hold depth={{convert|22|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}} 
|Ship sail plan=[[Full-rigged ship]]
|Ship propulsion=Sails
|Ship complement=650 officers and men
|Ship armament=*80 guns:{{efn|As given by Goodwin. Lavery quotes similarly, though the carronades are absent.}}
*Gundeck: 30 × 32-pounder guns
*Upper gundeck: 32 × 24-pounder guns
*[[Quarterdeck|QD]]: 14 × 12-pounder guns
*[[Forecastle|Fc]]: 4 × 12-pounder guns; 2 × 32-pounder [[carronade]]s
*[[Poop deck]]: 6 × 18-pounder carronades
|Ship notes=
}}
|}

'''HMS ''Foudroyant''''' was an 80-gun [[third rate]] of the [[Royal Navy]], one of only two British-built 80-gun ships of the period (the other was {{HMS|Caesar|1793|6}}). ''Foudroyant'' was built in the dockyard at Plymouth Dock (a.k.a. Devonport) and launched on 31 March 1798.{{efn|Goodwin (p.179) gives the launch date for ''Foudroyant'' as 31 March, 25 May, and 31 August. The text highlights this discrepancy and attributes the August date to Lyon's ''Sailing Navy List'', published in 1993. Dates given for commissioning and other movements, which are taken from the ship's logs, indicate that the March date is correct. A painting depicting the launch, dated 25 May 1798, adds further confusion, though it is not clear from the text if the date represents the launching or the date the painting was finished.}} ''Foudroyant'' served [[Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson|Nelson]] as his flagship from 6 June 1799 until the end of June 1800.

''Foudroyant'' had a long and successful career, and although she was not involved in any major fleet action, she did provide invaluable service to numerous admirals throughout her 17 years on active service. In her last years she became a training vessel for boys.

==Design==
Her designer was [[John Henslow (Surveyor of the Navy)|Sir John Henslow]].<ref name="Lavery, SoLv1 p183" /> She was named after the 80-gun {{HMS|Foudroyant|1758|2}}, which {{HMS|Swiftsure|1750|2}} and {{HMS|Monmouth|1667|2}}, both 70-gun ships, and {{HMS|Hampton Court|1709|2}} (64 guns), had captured from the [[France|French]] on 28 February 1758.

''Foudroyant'' was a one-off design. She followed French practice of favouring large two-decked, [[third rate]]s mounting 80 guns rather than the typical [[Kingdom of Great Britain|British]] preference for building three-decked second-rate ships mounting 98 guns. The two ship types, despite the difference in absolute gun numbers, had similar gun power but the British thought the second rate had a more imposing appearance and some advantages in battle, while they considered the 80 gun ship as usually faster and less 'leewardly'.

==French Revolutionary War==
[[File:Model of HMS Foudroyant in Monmouth Museum.JPG|thumb|right|A model of ''Foudroyant'' in [[Monmouth Museum]]]]
[[File:Model of HMS Foudroyant, in Monmouth Museum, 2.JPG|thumb|right]]
''Foudroyant'' was first commissioned on 25 May 1798, under the command of Captain [[Thomas Byard]]. On 12 October ''Foudroyant'' was with the squadron under Captain Sir [[John Borlase Warren]] in {{HMS|Canada|1765|2}} engaged a French squadron under Commodore [[Jean-Baptiste-François Bompart]] in the [[Battle of Tory Island]].<ref>{{London Gazette|pages=987–988|issue=15072|date=21 October 1798}}</ref> The British captured the French ship of the line [[HMS Donegal (1798)|''Hoche'']] and four of the eight French frigates. ''Foudroyant'' was only minimally engaged, though she did suffer nine men wounded, and went off in unsuccessful pursuit of the French frigates that had escaped. (Other British warships captured two of these frigates; two frigates and a schooner escaped completely).<ref>{{London Gazette|pages=1100–1101|issue=15081|date=17 November 1798}}</ref> In 1847 The Admiralty awarded the Naval General Service Medal with clasp "12th October 1798" to all surviving claimants from the action.

Byard's command lasted only until 31 October when, after bringing the ship back to Plymouth, he died.{{sfnp|Winfield|2008|p=301}} Commander William Butterfield took temporary command of the ship until he transferred to {{HMS|Hazard|1794|2}} just twelve days later.

Captain [[John Elphinstone]] took up command of the ship on 26 November 1798, in [[Cawsand Bay]]. [[George Keith Elphinstone, 1st Viscount Keith|Lord Keith]] hoisted his flag in ''Foudroyant'' on 28 November, and she departed to join the Mediterranean Squadron on 5 December. After arriving at [[Gibraltar]], Keith shifted his flag to {{HMS|Barfleur|1768|2}} on 31 December, and Captain Elphinstone left the ship the following day. His replacement was Captain [[James Richard Dacres (1749–1810)|James Richard Dacres]].

Dacres' command lasted for four months, before Captain William Brown replaced him on 22 March 1799. On 30 March ''Foudroyant'' was among the several British warships in sight, and so entitled to share in the prize money, when {{HMS|Alcmene|1794|2}} captured ''Saint Joseph'' or ''Hermosa Andalusia'', off Cadiz.<ref>{{London Gazette|page=1231|issue=15306|date=28 October 1800}}</ref>

''Foudroyant'' sailed from Gibraltar on 11 May, calling at [[Mahón|Port Mahon]] before arriving at [[Palermo]] on 7 June. At this time, Brown transferred to {{HMS|Vanguard|1787|2}}, and Captain [[Sir Thomas Hardy, 1st Baronet|Thomas Hardy]] took over the command. The following day, Lord Nelson hoisted his flag in ''Foudroyant''.

Over the following months, ''Foudroyant'' was involved in the efforts to return the Neapolitan royal family to [[Kingdom of Naples|Naples]]. Nelson's fleet arrived in Naples on 24 June.<ref>Goodwin, p.182.</ref> The fleet consisted of a total of 18 ships of the line, 1 frigate and 2 fire ships.{{efn|''Mutine'', a brig-sloop of 16 guns should also be included in this tally. Ships known to have comprised this fleet are: {{HMS|Alexander|1778|2}}, {{HMS| Bellerophon|1786|2}}, {{HMS|Bellona|1760|2}}, {{HMS|Culloden|1783|2}}, {{HMS|Goliath|1781|2}}, {{HMS|Leviathan|1790|2}}, {{HMS|Majestic|1785|2}}, {{HMS|Northumberland|1798|2}}, {{HMS|Powerful|1783|2}}, {{HMS|Swiftsure|1787|2}}, ''Vanguard'', {{HMS|Zealous|1785|2}}(ships of the line); {{HMS|Syren|1782|2}} (frigate); {{HMS|Mutine|1797|2}} (brig-sloop).}}

The British landed 500 British and Portuguese marines in support of the Neapolitans on 27 June, all under the command of Captain Sir [[Thomas Troubridge, 1st Baronet|Thomas Troubridge]], of ''Culloden''. The next day they captured the castles [[Castel dell'Ovo|Ovo]] and [[Castel Nuovo|Nuovo]]. On 29 June they commenced the siege of Fort St. Elmo. The first batteries were in place by 3 July, with the last still being constructed on 11 July. The British, Portuguese and Russian forces commenced the bombardment on 3 July and the French capitulated on 11 July, forestalling the need for an assault.<ref name=LG15169>{{London Gazette|pages=816–817|issue=15169|date=13 August 1799}}</ref>

On 10 July His Sicilian Majesty arrived in the Bay of Naples and immediately hoisted his standard on board the ''Foudroyant''. There the king and his ministers remained until after the capitulation of Fort St. Elmo.<ref name=LG15169/> A series of reprisals against known insurgents followed. The Neapolitans conducted several [[court martial|courts martial]], some of which resulted in hangings.

Whilst ''Foudroyant'' was in [[Naples]] harbour, Nelson began his affair with [[Emma, Lady Hamilton]]. ''Foudroyant'' departed Naples on 6 August, in company with ''Syren'' and the [[Portugal|Portuguese]] ship [[Nossa Senhora da Conceição (1771 ship)|''Principe Real'']]. ''Foudroyant'' also transported the [[Kingdom of Sardinia|Sardinian]] royal family to [[Livorno|Leghorn]] on 22 September.

On 13 October, ''Foudroyant'' entered Port Mahon harbour, and Captain Sir [[Edward Berry]] replaced Captain Hardy as acting captain.{{sfnp|Winfield|2008|p=301}} ''Foudroyant'' was back in [[Palermo]] by 22 October. Nelson remained ashore when ''Foudroyant'' departed for [[Gozo]] on 29 October, together with {{HMS|Minotaur|1793|2}}. In November, after weathering a storm in Palermo harbour, ''Foudroyant'' departed once more, this time with ''Culloden'', and ran aground in the [[Straits of Messina]]. With ''Culloden''{{'}}s assistance, it was possible to haul the ship off and into deep water. On 6 December a large part of the [[89th (The Princess Victoria's) Regiment of Foot|89th Regiment]] embarked on ''Foudroyant''.{{efn|The majority of the 89th came aboard at 0900 on 6 December, together with their women and children – 523 people in total.<ref>Goodwin, p.184.</ref>}} The soldiers landed at [[St. Paul's Bay]], on [[Malta]] on the 10th.

''Foudroyant'' was back at Palermo on 15 January 1800, when Lord Nelson hoisted his flag in her once again, and she sailed on to Livorno, arriving on the 21st. There ''Foudroyant''  received salutes from [[Denmark|Danish]] and Neapolitan frigates, and two [[Imperial Russia|Russian]] ships of the line.

On 26 January ''Foudroyant'' was in company with [[French brig Alerte (1787)|''Minorca'']] and {{HMS|Queen Charlotte|1790|2}} when she recaptured the [[Ragusan Republic|Ragusan]] [[polacca]] ''Annonciata'', Michele Pepi, master.<ref>{{London Gazette|page=10|issue=15545|date=28 December 1802}}</ref> She was carrying grain from Tunis to Genoa.<ref>{{London Gazette|page=442|issue=15255|date=6 May 1800}}</ref>

Sicilian soldiers embarked on 11 February, and ''Foudroyant'' sailed the next day for [[Malta]], in company with ''Alexander'', ''Northumberland'' (both 74s), and {{HMS|Success|1781|2}} (32). {{HMS|Audacious|1785|2}} (74), and {{HMS|Corso|1796|2}} (16) joined them later. On 18 February, the British squadron began a chase of a squadron of four French ships — [[French ship Généreux (1785)|''Généreux'']] (74), [[French ship Badine (1780)|''Badine'']] (24), [[French ship Fauvette (1783)|''Fauvette'']] (20), another corvette of 20 guns, and a [[fluyt]]. ''Alexander'' forced the fluyt to surrender, whilst ''Success'' engaged ''Généreux'', and the two ships exchanged a couple of broadsides before ''Foudroyant'' came up and fired into ''Généreux'', which struck her colours.<ref name=LG15242>{{London Gazette|pages=296–297|issue=15242|date=25 March 1800}}</ref>{{efn|The victory was of particular significance to Berry. In 1798, after the [[Battle of the Nile]], he was returning to [[England]] in command of {{HMS|Leander |1780|2}} when he encountered ''Généreux''. After a lopsided and courageous battle with ''Généreux'' Berry had had to surrender. Subsequently, his captors maltreated Berry and his crew.}} It turned out that Rear-Admiral [[Jean-Baptiste Perrée]], the commander-in-chief of the French navy in the Mediterranean, had been aboard ''Généreux'' and had been killed at the start of the action. His ships had been carrying some 4,000 troops intended to relieve Malta. Their failure to arrive significantly harmed the French hold on Malta and was a testament to the success of the British blockade of the island. British casualties amounted to one man killed and eight wounded, all on ''Success''.<ref name=LG15242/>

At the beginning of March, Nelson remained at Palermo due to illness when on 25 March ''Foudroyant'' sailed for [[Malta]] once more with Rear-Admiral Decres on board. On 29 March, she encountered the sloop {{HMS|Bonne Citoyenne|1796|2}}, and from her Berry learned that French ships were expected to leave [[Valletta]] that evening. [[French ship Guillaume Tell (1795)|''Guillaume Tell'']] put to sea on the evening of the 30th, where she encountered {{HMS|Lion|1777|2}} and {{HMS|Penelope|1798|2}}.

As day broke and the scene became apparent, ''Foudroyant'' maneuvered to pistol range of the French ship – the last French survivor of [[Aboukir]], ''Généreux'' being the only other – and joined the battle. ''Foudroyant's'' log for the [[action of 31 March 1800]] notes that at one point during the battle the French had nailed their colours to the stump of ''Guillaume Tell'''s mizzen mast. Still, ''Guillaume Tell'' eventually [[Striking the colours|struck]], but not before ''Foudroyant'' had lost her fore topmast and main topsail yard. The initial estimates put the number of dead and wounded on ''Lion'' and ''Foudroyant'' at 40 per vessel.<ref>{{London Gazette|page=444 |issue=15255|date=6 May 1800}}</ref>

Later in the day, ''Foudroyant's'' mizzen mast fell, having been damaged during the battle. ''Lion'' took ''Foudroyant'' in tow for a time, whilst a jury rig was set up. She entered [[Syracuse, Sicily|Syracuse]] on 3 April. Amongst the British vessels, ''Foudroyant'' had borne the heaviest casualties with eight men killed and 61 wounded, including Berry, who was only slightly wounded and did not leave the deck during the fight. The British estimated that the French had had over two hundred casualties.<ref>{{London Gazette|pages=575–576 |issue=15263|date=31 May 1800}}</ref>

On 3 June, the Neapolitan king and queen boarded ''Foudroyant'', accompanied by Sir [[William Hamilton (diplomat)|William Hamilton]] and his wife Emma. The royal family departed the ship after their arrival in Livorno on 15 June, and just two weeks later Nelson hauled down his flag and began the journey home to England overland together with the Hamiltons.

Lord Keith raised his flag in ''Foudroyant'' for the second time on 15 August, returning the ship to [[Gibraltar]] on 13 September. Captain Berry transferred out of the ship on 2 November for the 38-gun [[frigate]] {{HMS|Princess Charlotte|1799|2}}.

Captain [[Philip Beaver]] took over the command on 17 November and sailed into the Eastern Mediterranean with a fleet of 51 vessels, many armed [[en flûte]] and carrying the 16,150 men of General Sir [[Ralph Abercromby]]'s force, which was intended to drive the French out of [[Egypt]]. Still, on 22 December ''Foudroyant'' captured the French brig ''Hyppolite'', which was carrying rice from Alexandria to Marseilles.<ref>{{London Gazette|page=447|issue=15358|date=25 April 1801}}</ref>

Keith sailed from Marmarice on 22 February, arriving off [[Abu Qir|Abukir Bay]] on 2 March. Sea conditions meant that the British were unable to land until 8 March. They met resistance from the French but by evening all the troops had landed and driven the French from the beach. The landing cost ''Foudroyant'' one man killed and one wounded. In all, the landings cost the British 22 men killed, 72 men wounded, and three missing.<ref name=LG15362>{{London Gazette|pages=496–497|issue=15362|date=5 May 1801}}</ref>

On the 13th, the landing party of seamen and marines, under the command of Captain Sir [[Sidney Smith (Royal Navy officer)|William Sidney Smith]], were again in action at [[Battle of Mandora|Mandora]] as the British moved towards Alexandria. ''Foudroyant'' had one man wounded. In all, the British navy lost six seamen killed and 19 wounded, and 24 marines killed and 35 wounded.<ref name=LG15362/>

Keith then used his ships to reduce the castle at the entrance of Abukir Bay, which eventually fell to the British on 18 March 1801. A [[Battle of Alexandria (1801)|French counter-attack]] on 21 March by some 20,000 men, although ending in defeat, caused General Abercromby a severe injury; he died aboard ''Foudroyant'' a week after the battle.<ref name=LG15364>{{London Gazette|page=532|issue=15364|date=15 May 1801}}</ref> In addition to the army losses, the Royal Navy lost four men killed and 20 wounded, though none were from ''Foudroyant''.<ref name=LG15364/>

''Foudroyant'' lay off [[Alexandria]] until June, and on 17 June Captain Beaver transferred to {{HMS|Determinée|1799|2}}. His replacement was Captain William Young, who in turn was replaced by Captain T. Stephenson.{{sfnp|Winfield|2008|p=301}}

Captain [[John Clarke Searle]] took command in June 1801, before handing over to Captain John Elphinstone, again, in September.{{sfnp|Winfield|2008|p=301}} In mid-August, the fleet transported the British Army to Alexandria. On 26 September the French proposed a three-day armistice to discuss terms of capitulation.<ref>{{London Gazette|pages=1371–1372|issue=15427|date=14 November 1801}}</ref> Because ''Foudroyant'' had served in the navy's Egyptian campaign between 8 March 1801 and 2 September, her officers and crew qualified for the clasp "Egypt" to the Naval General Service Medal that the [[British Admiralty|Admiralty]] authorised in 1850 for all surviving claimants.{{efn|A first-class share of the prize money awarded in April 1823 was worth [[£sd|£]]34 2[[shilling|s]] 4[[pence|d]]; a fifth-class share, that of a seaman, was worth 3s 11½d. The amount was small as the total had to be shared between 79 vessels and the entire army contingent.<ref>{{London Gazette|page=633 |issue=17915|date=3 April 1823}}</ref>}}

When the [[Treaty of Amiens]] was signed, bringing the war to an end in 1802, ''Foudroyant'' was paid off at Plymouth Dock (Devonport) on 26 July.{{sfnp|Winfield|2008|p=301}}

==Napoleonic Wars==
In January 1803, ''Foudroyant'' was docked in Plymouth Dock for a somewhat major repair. The ship was recommissioned under the command of Captain [[Peter Spicer]] on 11 June. Her former captain, now Rear Admiral Sir James Richard Dacres, hoisted his flag on the same day, and remained aboard until 28 October. Two days later, Rear Admiral of the White, Sir [[Thomas Graves (admiral)|Thomas Graves]] hoisted his flag. Captain [[Peter Puget]] took over the command on 27 February 1804; however, owing to a serious injury while ''Foudroyant'' served with the [[Channel Fleet]], he was returned to England (leaving [[Christopher Nesham]] in acting command) and officially left the ship on 31 May 1805. ''Foudroyant'' returned to dock on 26 March 1804 for repairs.

24 February 1805 saw Captain Edward Kendall take over the command, and in June ''Foudroyant'' was flagship of Graves's fleet, consisting of [[HMS Barfleur (1768)|''Barfleur'']], [[HMS Raisonnable (1768)|''Raisonnable'']], [[HMS Repulse (1803)|''Repulse'']], [[HMS Triumph (1764)|''Triumph'']], [[HMS Warrior (1781)|''Warrior'']], [[HMS Windsor Castle (1790)|''Windsor Castle'']], and [[French frigate Egyptienne (1799)|''Egyptienne'']] blockading the French port of [[Rochefort, Charente-Maritime|Rochefort]].

Command of the ship passed to Captain [[John Erskine Douglas]] on 9 December temporarily, before Captain [[John Chambers White]] assumed command on the 13th. On 13 March 1806, ''Foudroyant'' was involved in an action between some ships of the fleet and two French vessels - [[French ship Marengo|''Marengo'']] of 80 guns, and [[French ship Belle Poule (1802)|''Belle Poule'']] of 40. Both ships were captured and taken into the navy.

{{main|Action of 13 March 1806}}

On 24 November Captain Richard Peacock took command of the ship, and Admiral Sir [[John Borlase Warren]] hoisted his flag in ''Foudroyant'' on 19 December. Rear Admiral [[Sir Albemarle Bertie, 1st Baronet|Sir Albemarle Bertie]] raised his flag in ''Foudroyant'' on 20 May 1807, and remained in the ship until 17 November. Peacock's command passed to Captain [[Norborne Thompson]] on 31 May. ''Foudroyant'' joined with Admiral Sir [[Sidney Smith (Royal Navy officer)|Sir Sidney Smith]]'s squadron blockading Lisbon.{{efn|Sidney Smith's squadron was composed of [[HMS Hibernia (1804)|''Hibernia'']], [[HMS London (1766)|''London'']], [[HMS Conqueror (1801)|''Conqueror'']], [[HMS Elizabeth (1807)|''Elizabeth'']], [[HMS Marlborough (1807)|''Marlborough'']], [[HMS Monarch (1765)|''Monarch'']], and [[HMS Plantagenet (1801)|''Plantagenet'']].<ref name="Goodwin, p189">Goodwin, p189.</ref>}} Smith hoisted his flag in ''Foudroyant'' on 24 January 1808. Captain [[Charles Marsh Schomberg]] took command of the ship on 6 June.{{efn|The ship's records indicate that Captain Thompson left the ship on 3 February. The gap between him leaving the ship and Schomberg joining is not explained.<ref name="Goodwin, p189"/>}} On 12 March ''Foudroyant'' parted company for [[South America]], arriving in [[Rio de Janeiro]] in August. Captain [[John Davie (Royal Navy officer)|John Davie]] took command on 25 January 1809, and then Captain Richard Hancock on 17 May. Smith transferred his flag to {{HMS|Diana|1794|2}} on the same day.

From 25 May, ''Foudroyant'' was in company with {{HMS|Agamemnon|1781|2}}, {{HMS|Mutine|1806|2}}, {{HMS|Mistletoe|1809|2}}, and [[HMS Brilliant (1779)|''Brilliant'']], escorting a convoy. On 8 June they entered [[Moldonado Bay]] at the mouth of the [[Río de la Plata]] where ''Agamemnon'' struck rocks and was wrecked. ''Foudroyant'' assisted in taking off men and stores from the stricken ship; there were no deaths.{{sfnp|Hepper|1994|p=129}}

''Foudroyant'' remained in the Río area until August 1812, when she returned to [[England]], entering [[Cawsand Bay]] on 21 October, and entering Plymouth Dock on 6 November. Hancock departed the ship on 30 November, and then ''Foudroyant'' lay at her anchor until 26 January 1815, when she was taken into dock for a large repair that lasted 4 years.

==Post-war==
[[File:Santa Fe with Foudroyant - Cassier's 1897-08.png|thumb|left|''Foudroyant'' seen next to the Argentine torpedo boat destroyer ''Santa Fe'' - circa 1897]]
When ''Foudroyant'' came out of dock in 1819, she took up her role as [[guard ship]] in Plymouth Dock (renamed Devonport 1824) until about 1860. Throughout this period she was in and out of dock on several occasions for repairs. In 1862 she was converted into a gunnery training vessel, a role she fulfilled until 1884. She was thereafter stationed at Devonport on dockyard duties, and was attached as to tender to the gunnery schoolship [[HMS Windsor Castle (1858)|HMS ''Cambridge'']].

She was finally placed on the Sales List in 1891 and sold out of the service the following January for £2,350. Bought by J. Read of Portsmouth, she was promptly resold to German shipbreakers. This prompted a storm of public protest. [[Arthur Conan Doyle]] published a poem called "For Nelson's Sake" which protested this sale. Philanthropist [[G. Wheatly Cobb]] of [[Caldicot Castle]] then bought her to use as a [[training ship]] for boys<ref name="FoHMST">{{cite web | title = The History of HMS Trincomalee 1812 to 1986 | url = http://friendsofhmstrincomalee.org.uk/onewebmedia/TK001%20The%20History%20of%20HMS%20Trincomalee%201812%20to%201986.pdf | website = friendsofhmstrincomalee.org.uk | date = 2012 | access-date = 10 March 2023}}</ref> and restored her to her original appearance at a cost of £25,000. To offset the restoration cost, it was then decided to exhibit her at various seaside resorts.

==Fate==
[[File:Cabinet made of the wreckage of HMS Foudroyant and containing objects also made of the same ship.JPG|thumb|right|Cabinet at [[Monmouth Museum]] made of the wreckage of the ''Foudroyant'' and containing objects also made from the ship.]]
[[File:Wreck of Foudroyant, at Blackpool, 1897.jpg|thumb|left|The wreck of HMS ''Foudroyant'']]
[[File:Nelson's Flagship Foudroyant showing damaged hull, wrecked at Blackpool, 1897.jpg|thumb|Foudroyant's damaged hull, 1897]]
In June 1897 she was towed to [[Blackpool]] and could be visited for a small entrance fee.

On 16 June 1897 during a violent storm, she parted a cable and dragging the remaining anchor, went ashore on [[Blackpool Sands, Blackpool|Blackpool Sands]], damaging [[North Pier, Blackpool|Blackpool North Pier]] in the process.{{sfnp|Gosset|1986|p=125}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.accordions.com/nao/competitions/2008/pier.htm|title = National Accordion Organization of the United Kingdom}}</ref> The Blackpool [[Lifeboat (rescue)#United Kingdom|lifeboat]] was able to rescue all 27 of her crew.<ref name=Gillatt>{{cite book|last=Gillatt|first=Peter|title=Blackpool FC On This Day: History, Facts and Figures from Every Day of the Year |publisher=Pitch Publishing Ltd|date=30 November 2009|isbn=978-1-905411-50-4}}</ref>

After vain attempts to refloat her, her guns were removed and she was sold for £200. She finally broke up in the December gales.{{sfnp|Gosset|1986|p=125}} Craftsmen used flotsam from the wreck to make furniture,<ref>One such piece was featured on the BBC Antiques Roadshow, 2005, in the Portsmouth, UK episode focusing on Lord Nelson. [http://www.hamptonandlittlewood.co.uk/Catalogues/AC200607/page5.htm AC200607 Lot:120-149]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and, between 1929 and 2003, the wall panelling of the boardroom of [[Blackpool F.C.]]'s [[Bloomfield Road]] ground.<ref name=Gillatt/> The ship's bell now resides in [[Blackpool Town Hall]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lancashirefolk.com/2016/04/28/bloomfield-road-football-ground-blackpool/|title= Bloomfield Road Football Ground – Blackpool|publisher=Lancashire Folk|date=28 April 2016|access-date=8 July 2020}}</ref> Copper, salvaged from the wreck, was used to manufacture medals, which were sold to the general public.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.royalnavalmuseum.org/info_sheets_foudroyant.html|title=Royal Naval Museum}}</ref>

As a replacement, Cobb purchased the 38-gun frigate {{HMS|Trincomalee||2}}, and renamed her ''Foudroyant'' in the previous ship's honour. This ''Foudroyant'' remained in service until 1991, when she was taken to [[Hartlepool]] and renamed back to ''Trincomalee''.

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==Citations==
{{reflist}}

==References==
{{refbegin}}
* Goodwin, Peter (2002) ''Nelson's Ships - A History of the Vessels in which he Served, 1771-1805''. Conway Maritime Press. {{ISBN|0-85177-742-2}}
* {{cite book|last=Gosset|first=William Patrick|year=1986|title=The lost ships of the Royal Navy, 1793-1900|publisher=Mansell|isbn=0-7201-1816-6}}
* {{cite book|last=Hepper|first=David J.|year=1994|title=British Warship Losses in the Age of Sail, 1650-1859|publisher=Jean Boudriot|location=Rotherfield|isbn=0-948864-30-3}}
* [http://www.nmm.ac.uk/mag/pages/mnuExplore/PaintingDetail.cfm?ID=BHC0383 The Capture of the ''Foudroyant'' by HMS ''Monmouth'', 28 February 1758]. National Maritime Museum, Greenwich. Retrieved 25 October 2006.
* Lavery, Brian (2003) ''The Ship of the Line - Volume 1: The development of the battlefleet 1650-1850.'' Conway Maritime Press. {{ISBN|0-85177-252-8}}.
* {{cite book |first=Rif|last=Winfield|title=British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793&ndash;1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates|publisher=Seaforth|year=2008|isbn=978-1-86176-246-7}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline|HMS Foudroyant (1798)}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070804055353/http://www.rossallbeach.co.uk/foudroyantnelsonp.htm Gallery] of pictures, and history of HMS ''Foudroyant''.
* Phillips, Michael. [https://web.archive.org/web/20061025032404/http://www.cronab.demon.co.uk/INTRO18.HTM Ships of the Old Navy, A History of Ships of the 18th Century Royal Navy]. Ships of the Old Navy. Retrieved 25 October 2006.

{{Blackpool culture}}
{{1897 shipwrecks}}
{{coord missing|Atlantic Ocean}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Foudroyant (1798)}}
[[Category:Ships of the line of the Royal Navy]]
[[Category:Shipwrecks in the Irish Sea]]
[[Category:Shipwrecks of England]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1897]]
[[Category:History of Blackpool]]
[[Category:1897 in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:1798 ships]]