HMS Bideford (1756)

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HMS Bideford was a 20-gun Royal Navy ship launched in 1756.

Service history

HMS Bideford was designed by Sir Thomas Slade and built by Adam Hayes at Deptford Dockyard with Captain Robert Digby as Commander, with a crew of 160 men. The ship was based on the south English coast. In November 1756 command passed to Francis Samuel Drake. [1]

In June 1757 command passed to Captain Samuel Hood (father of the infamous Captain Samuel Hood) and she joined the fleet of Admiral Hawke and began a period of intense action.

In February 1758 command passed from Hood to Captain Lancelot Skynner.

After repairs Bideford was put under command of Captain William Howe in July 1760.

In September 1761 command passed from Howe to Captain Thomas Gordon]

The ship was wrecked on the notorious Haisborough Sands off the Norfolk coast on December 31, 1761. [3] The captain and much of the crew were drowned. [4]

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References

  1. "British Sixth Rate ship 'Bideford' (1756)".
  2. "Action of 4 April 1760, 4th April 1760".
  3. The Times (newspaper) 2 January 1762
  4. "Thomas Gordon (D.1761)".