| History | |
|---|---|
 France | |
| Name | Magnifique |
| Builder | Toulon |
| Laid down | 1747 |
| Launched | 7 March 1749 |
| Fate | Grounded on sandbar off Lovells Island, Boston 1782 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Magnifique class ship of the line |
| Displacement | 1500 tonnes |
| Length | 53.6 m (176 ft) |
| Beam | 14 m (46 ft) |
| Draught | 6.6 m (22 ft) |
| Propulsion | Sail |
| Complement | 678 men |
| Armament | 74 guns |
| Armour | Timber |
Magnifique was the lead ship of the 3-ship Magnifique class 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.
In 1760, Magnifique was under Duchaffault, and patrolled off Martinique, along with Hébé, under La Touche Beauregard. [1]
Captain Brach captained Magnifique at the Battle of Ushant on 27 July 1778, [2] at the Battle of Grenada on 6 July 1779, [3] and at the Battle of Martinique on 17 April 1780. [4]
On 15 August 1782, Magnifique was wrecked along the rocky shore of Lovells Island, in Boston Harbor, MA, USA. She was rumoured to have been carrying "long-lost treasure." [5] According to a US National Park Service Guide, the submerged vessel is still visible from N 42° 19.902’ W 070° 55.818’ during periods of calm. [6]
On 3 September 1782 the Continental Congress decided to present the ship of the line America to King Louis XVI of France to replace Magnifique. The gift was to symbolize the new nation's "appreciation for France's service to and sacrifices in behalf of the cause of the American patriots". [7]
The Battle of St. Lucia or the Battle of the Cul de Sac was a naval battle fought off the island of St. Lucia in the West Indies during the American Revolutionary War on 15 December 1778, between the British Royal Navy and the French Navy.
Pluton was a Scipion-class 74-gun French ship of the line built at Rochefort.
Artésien ('Artesian') was a 64-gun ship of the line of the French Navy, lead ship of her class. She was funded by a don des vaisseaux donation from the Estates of Artois.
Triomphant was an 80-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.
Caton was a 64-gun ship of the line of the French Navy, launched in 1777.
Solitaire was a 64-gun ship of the line of the French Navy, built by Antoine Groignard and launched in 1774, lead ship of her class. She was captured by the Royal Navy on 6 December 1782, and commissioned as the third rate HMS Solitaire. She was sold out of the Navy in 1790.
The Zélé was a 74-gun ship of the line of the French Royal Navy. She was funded by a don des vaisseaux donation from the Régisseur général des finances.
Nicolas Henri René de Grimouard was an officer in the French Navy. He served in the War of American Independence, and became a member of the Society of the Cincinnati.
César was a 74-gun ship of the French Navy. Ordered in the spring of 1767 from the Toulon shipyard, she was launched on 3 August 1768. César saw service in the American War of Independence, during which she was destroyed in the Battle of the Saintes.
The Citoyen was a 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy, lead ship of her class to a design by Joseph-Louis Ollivier. She was funded by a don des vaisseaux donation from the Bankers and General Treasurers of the Army.
Sagittaire was a 50-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.
Claude Mithon de Senneville de Genouilly was a French Navy officer. He served in the War of American Independence.
Georges-François Godefroy Framond de La Framondie was a French Navy officer and aristocrat. He served in the War of American Independence, earning membership in the Society of the Cincinnati.
Joseph François Auguste Jules d'Albert de Saint-Hippolyte was a French Navy officer. He served in the War of American Independence, earning membership in the Society of the Cincinnati.
Complete name : Comte Jean-Baptiste de Turpin de Jouhé du Breuil-Malmaud coat of arms : "three gold besants on azure background"
Louis Guillaume de Parscau du Plessix was a French Navy officer. He served in the War of American Independence, earning membership in the Society of the Cincinnati.
Actionnaire was a 64-gun ship of the line of the French Navy. Originally built for the French East India Company, she was purchased by the Navy and saw service during the War of American Independence.
Gaspard de Ligondès was a French Navy officer. He served in the War of American Independence.
Armand-Claude Poute de Nieuil was a French Navy officer. He served during the War of American Independence.
François-Louis de Brach was a French Navy officer. He notably served during the War of American Independence.
42°19′54″N70°55′49″W / 42.33167°N 70.93028°W
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