HMS Elizabeth (1679)
HMS Elizabeth was a 70-gun third rate built at Barnards Yard at Deptford Green by William and Robert Castle of Rotherhithe in 1678/80. She held an active commission during the War of the English Succession fighting in all three major engagements. She was rebuilt at Portsmouth between 1699 and 1704. She was captured by the French off the Scilly Islands in November 1704. She was in the French Navy until she was deleted in 1720.
She was the seventh vessel to bear the name Elizabeth since it was used for a 900-ton vessel purchased in 1514 and wrecked in 1514.
HMS Elizabeth was awarded the Battle Honour Barfleur 1692.
Construction and specifications
She was ordered in March 1678 to be built under contract by Robert Castle of Deptford on the River Thames. She was launched on 3 March 1679. Her dimensions were a gundeck of with a keel of for tonnage calculation with a breadth of and a depth of hold of. Her builder's measure tonnage was calculated as 1,072 tons. Her draught was.Her initial gun armament was in accordance with the 1677 Establishment with 72/60 guns consisting of twenty-six demi-cannons on the lower deck, twenty-six 12-pounder guns on the upper deck, ten sakers on the quarterdeck and four sakers on the foc's'le with four 3-pounder guns on the poop deck or roundhouse. By 1688 she would carry 70 guns as per the 1685 Establishment. Her initial manning establishment would be for a crew of 460/380/300 personnel.
Commissioned service
Service 1680-1699
She was commissioned on 18 January 1680 under the temporary command of Captain Tomas Willshaw for delivery to Chatham. In 1688 she was under the command of Captain John Nevill as the Flagship of Rear-Admiral Sir John Berry sailing with Lord Dartmouth's Fleet in 1689. She was under Captain David Mitchell in April 1689 as the Flagship of Admiral Arthur Herbert. She was the Flagship of the English Fleet in the Battle of Bantry Bay on 1 May 1689. She followed this by fighting in the Battle of Beachy Head in Red Squadron on 30 June 1690. Later in 1690 she was under Captain Henry Priestman. In 1692 Captain Stafford Fairborne was in command. She was in the Battle of Barfleur as a member of Red Squadron, Centre Division between 19 and 22 May 1692.Captain Robert Wilmot was in command in 1693 with the Channel Fleet. In 1694 she was under Captain Edward Whitaker sailing with Lord Berkeley's operations. In 1695 her commander was Captain James Greenaway sailing with Russel's Fleet. In 1696 she was under Captain John Fletcher sailing in the Soundings. In 1697 she was under the command of Captain Thomas Sherman at Portsmouth. She would be rebuilt at Portsmouth in 1703.