# HMS Defence (1763)

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74-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy

For other ships with the same name, see [HMS Defence](/source/HMS_Defence).

Defence (centre) at the Glorious First of June History Great Britain Name HMS Defence Ordered 15 December 1758 Builder Israel Pownoll, Plymouth Dockyard Launched 31 March 1763 Fate Wrecked, 24 December 1811 Notes Participated in: Battle of Cape St Vincent Battle of Cuddalore Glorious First of June Battle of the Nile Battle of Trafalgar General characteristics [1] Class & type Bellona-class ship of the line Tons burthen 1,6038⁄94 (bm) Length 168 ft (51.2 m) (gundeck) Beam 46 ft 9 in (14.2 m) Draught 21 ft 6 in (6.6 m) Depth of hold 19 ft 9 in (6.0 m) Sail plan Full-rigged ship Armament Gundeck: 28 × 32-pounder guns Upper gundeck: 28 × 18-pounder guns QD: 14 × 9-pounder guns Fc: 4 × 9-pounder guns

**HMS *Defence*** was a 74-gun [*Bellona*-class](/source/Bellona-class_ship_of_the_line) [third-rate](/source/Third-rate) [ship of the line](/source/Ship_of_the_line) of the [Royal Navy](/source/Royal_Navy), built by Israel Pownoll and launched on 31 March 1763 at [Plymouth Dockyard](/source/HMNB_Devonport). She was one of the most famous ships of the period, taking part in several of the most important naval battles of the [French Revolutionary](/source/French_Revolutionary_War) and [Napoleonic Wars](/source/Napoleonic_Wars). In 1811 she was wrecked off the coast of [Jutland](/source/Jutland) with the loss of almost her entire crew.

## Career

During the [American War of Independence](/source/American_War_of_Independence), *Defence* served with the [Channel Fleet](/source/Channel_Fleet), seeing action at the [Battle of Cape St. Vincent](/source/Battle_of_Cape_St._Vincent_(1780)) in 1780. She was sent out to [India](/source/India) in early 1782 as part of a squadron of five ships under Commodore [Sir Richard Bickerton](/source/Sir_Richard_Bickerton%2C_1st_Baronet), arriving too late for the battles of that year. But in 1783 she took part in the last battle of the war, at [Cuddalore](/source/Battle_of_Cuddalore_(1783)). She returned to England at the end of 1785. She was then laid up during the years of peace until the outbreak of the [French Revolutionary Wars](/source/French_Revolutionary_Wars).

Situation of the *Defence* at the close of the action on 1 June 1794, by [Robert Dodd](/source/Robert_Dodd_(artist)) after Lieut. A. Becher RN.

Recommissioned into the Channel Fleet under Captain [James Gambier](/source/James_Gambier%2C_1st_Baron_Gambier), she fought at the [Glorious First of June](/source/Glorious_First_of_June) in 1794, distinguishing herself in action against [*Mucius*](/source/French_ship_Orion_(1787)) and [*Tourville*](/source/French_ship_Tourville_(1788)), and becoming one of only two British ships to be completely dismasted in the battle. After repairs, she was sent to the Mediterranean, joining Admiral [William Hotham](/source/William_Hotham%2C_1st_Baron_Hotham) in time to take part in the [Battle of Hyeres](/source/Battle_of_Hy%C3%A8res_Islands) in July.

*Defence* was at [Plymouth](/source/Plymouth) on 20 January 1795 and so shared in the proceeds of the detention of the Dutch naval vessels, [East Indiamen](/source/East_Indiamen), and other merchant vessels that were in port on the outbreak of war between Britain and the Netherlands.[2]

In 1798 she returned to the Mediterranean under Captain [John Peyton](/source/John_Peyton_(Royal_Navy_officer)), taking part in the [Battle of the Nile](/source/Battle_of_the_Nile) in August.

On 1 July 1800, *Defence*, [*Fisgard*](/source/French_frigate_R%C3%A9sistance), [*Renown*](/source/HMS_Renown_(1798)) and the [hired armed cutter *Lord Nelson*](/source/Hired_armed_cutter_Lord_Nelson) were in Bourneuf Bay when they sent in their boats to attack a French convoy at [Île de Noirmoutier](/source/%C3%8Ele_de_Noirmoutier).[3] The British destroyed the [*Thérèse*](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=French_ship_Th%C3%A9r%C3%A8se_(1799)&action=edit&redlink=1) (of 20 guns), a lugger (12 guns), two schooners (6 guns each) and a cutter (6 guns), of unknown names. The cutting out party also burned some 15 merchant vessels loaded with corn and supplies for the French fleet at [Brest](/source/Brest%2C_France). However, in this enterprise, 92 officers and men out of the entire party of 192 men, fell prisoners to the French when their boats became stranded. *Lord Nelson* had contributed no men to the attacking force and so had no casualties.[3][a]

In 1801, *Defence* sailed to the Baltic under Captain [Lord Henry Paulet](/source/Lord_Henry_Paulet) with Admiral [Hyde Parker's](/source/Hyde_Parker_(admiral)) fleet. She was present at the [Battle of Copenhagen](/source/Battle_of_Copenhagen_(1801)), but did not see action as she was part of the reserve under Parker.

On 11 February, 1805 she made contact with [USS Constitution](/source/USS_Constitution) off Portugal 36.44 North.[5]

*[The Morning After Trafalgar](/source/The_Morning_After_Trafalgar)* by [Clarkson Stanfield](/source/Clarkson_Stanfield), depicts the captured *San Ildefonso*.

In 1805 she saw action again at the [Battle of Trafalgar](/source/Battle_of_Trafalgar), where under Captain [George Johnstone Hope](/source/George_Johnstone_Hope), she captured the [*San Ildefonso*](/source/Spanish_ship_San_Ildefonso) and fought the [*Berwick*](/source/HMS_Berwick_(1775)), suffering 36 casualties.

*Defence* was one of the British ships in support of the 1809 [Walcheren Campaign](/source/Walcheren_Campaign) which was intended to capture [Vlissingen](/source/Vlissingen) (Flushing) and [Antwerp](/source/Antwerp) in the Netherlands.

## Loss

She ran aground on 24 December 1811 off the west coast of [Jutland](/source/Jutland), Denmark. She was under the command of Captain D. Atkins and in the company of [*St George*](/source/HMS_St_George_(1785)), under Rear-Admiral [Robert Carthew Reynolds](/source/Robert_Carthew_Reynolds), and [*Cressy*](/source/HMS_Cressy_(1810)), when a hurricane and heavy seas came up. *St George* was [jury-rigged](/source/Jury_rigging) and so Atkins refused to leave her without the admiral's permission. As a result, both were wrecked near [Ringkøbing](/source/Ringk%C3%B8bing). *Cressy* did not ask for permission and so avoided wrecking.[6]

The last cruise

*Defence* lost all but 14 of her crew of 597 men and boys, including her captain.[6] *St George* too lost almost her entire crew, including the admiral. Most of the bodies that came ashore were buried in the sand dunes of [Thorsminde](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thorsminde&action=edit&redlink=1), which have been known ever since as "Dead Mens Dunes."[6] The Danish authorities quickly ordered [Lieutenant Wigelsen](/source/Broder_Knud_Brodersen_Wigelsen), the [Receiver of Wreck](/source/Receiver_of_Wreck), to the area.

## Captain Atkins and his culpability for the loss

Captain David Atkins is first noted as a [midshipman](/source/Midshipman) under Captain [Erasmus Gower](/source/Erasmus_Gower) in [HMS *Edgar*](/source/HMS_Edgar_(1779)) in 1780–81. For two years commencing in 1792, he was 3rd lieutenant with Gower in [HMS *Lion*](/source/HMS_Lion_(1777)) under Gower. John Barrow later claimed Atkins while on *Lion* was a navigator, "showing skill in lunar observations way beyond his years".[7] He followed Gower onto [HMS *Triumph*](/source/HMS_Triumph_(1764)) and was [first lieutenant](/source/First_lieutenant) on *Triumph* from 1794. He was promoted [captain](/source/Captain_(Royal_Navy)) in 1798; in 1801, he was promoted to captain; and thence to [flag captain](/source/Flag_captain) to Gower on [*Princess Royal*](/source/HMS_Princess_Royal). In 1805 [HMS *Seine*](/source/HMS_Seine) was captained by him.[7] In 1809, he commanded *Defence* in the [Walcheren Expedition](/source/Walcheren_Expedition).[7][8][9][10][11][*[excessive citations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources#Bundling_citations)*]

Accounting for blame for the loss is conflicted. Some say he followed HMS *St George* onto the reef. As published by Brenton 3 Brenton (1837) *Naval History of Great Britain* the *St George*, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Robert Carthew Reynolds, ran ashore. Ostensibly, when told of this, Atkins asked whether the admiral had made the signal giving him leave to part company. Hearing a denial, Atkins said: "I will never desert my Admiral in the hour of danger and distress." *Defence* ran aground and was overcome by a breaking sea. The breakup led to loss of 593 men, her full complement being 597.[7] One of the survivors said that "At half-past twelve the captain told Mr. Baker he would not wear till the St. George did, but would stay by her."[12]

On the other hand, the *Annual Register* (Vol 54), however, states that "HMS *Defence* was the first ship to run aground and that HMS *St George* (flagship) immediately let go its anchor but that the ship swung around on her cable and also went aground as a result." This account was corroborated by an account printed in *[Gentleman's Magazine](/source/Gentleman's_Magazine)* in 1812. In the incident, "HMS *St George* was also destroyed, with the loss of 838 lives, including Reynolds."[7] Given [the fog of war](/source/Fog_of_war) and passage of time, this historical debate may never be conclusively resolved.[7]

Atkins' body was buried with full [Military honours](/source/Military_honours) by the Danes.[7]

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** She did share in the head money with an able seaman receiving 3[s](/source/Shilling) 11+3⁄4[d](/source/Pence), and her commander receiving [£](/source/%C2%A3sd)6 8s 7+1⁄2d, in 1825.[4]

## Citations

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEWinfield200843_1-0)** [Winfield (2008)](#CITEREFWinfield2008), p. 43.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["No. 15407"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/15407/page/1145). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)*. 15 September 1801. p. 1145.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEDebritt1801Appendix:History_of_the_war_page_37_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEDebritt1801Appendix:History_of_the_war_page_37_3-1) [Debritt (1801)](#CITEREFDebritt1801), Appendix:History of the war page 37.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["No. 18160"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/18160/page/1337). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)*. 30 July 1825. p. 1337.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [*Naval Documents related to the United States Wars with the Barbary Powers Volume V Part 2 of 3 September 7 1804 through April 1805*](https://ibiblio.org/anrs/docs/E/E3/nd_barbarywars_v05p02.pdf) (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 343. Retrieved 10 May 2025 – via Ibiblio.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGosset198681_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGosset198681_7-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGosset198681_7-2) [Gosset (1986)](#CITEREFGosset1986), p. 81.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Bates_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Bates_8-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Bates_8-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Bates_8-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Bates_8-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Bates_8-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-Bates_8-6) Bates, David; Gower, David I. (2017). *Champion of the Quarterdeck: Admiral Sir Erasmus Gower (1742-1814)*. Pomona, Queensland: Sage Old Books. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780958702126](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780958702126).Atkins, David. ["David Atkins biography"](https://www.sageoldbooks.com/egap/ab.html#Atkins). [Sage Old Books](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sage_Old_Books&action=edit&redlink=1). Retrieved 4 April 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Tracy_9-0)** Tracy, Nicholas (1998). [*The Naval Chronicle: 1811-1815*](https://books.google.com/books?id=-vqQ49SRhiEC&dq=David+Atkins+HMS+Defence&pg=PA60) (Hardcover). Vol. 5. London; Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, USA: [Chatham Publishing](/source/Chatham_Publishing), [Stackpole Books](/source/Stackpole_Books). pp. 60–62. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780811711111](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780811711111).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Clowes_10-0)** [Clowes, William Laird](/source/William_Laird_Clowes); [Markham, Clements Robert](/source/Clements_Robert_Markham); [Mahan, Alfred Thayer](/source/Alfred_Thayer_Mahan); [Wilson, Herbert Wrigley](/source/Herbert_Wrigley_Wilson) (1900). [*The Royal Navy: A History from the Earliest Times to the Present*](https://books.google.com/books?id=TR5EAAAAYAAJ&dq=David+Atkins+Royal+Navy+officer&pg=PA498). Vol. 5. S. Low, Marston. p. 498.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Gilly_11-0)** [Gilly, William Stephen](/source/William_Stephen_Gilly) (1864). [*Narratives of Shipwrecks of the Royal Navy Between 1793 and 1857 Compiled Principally from Official Documents in the Admiralty*](https://books.google.com/books?id=UJEG6Sk3I9IC) (3rd ed.). [Longman, Green, Longman, Roberts and Green](/source/Longman). p. 376.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Mackenzie_12-0)** [Mackenzie, Robert Holden](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Robert_Holden_Mackenzie&action=edit&redlink=1) (1969) [1913]. *The Trafalgar Roll: Containing the Names and Services of All Officers of the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines who Participated in the Glorious Victory of the 21st October 1805, Together with a History of the Ships Engaged in the Battle* (Hardcover). London: [Cornmarket Press](/source/Cornmarket_Press). pp. 179, 182, 185. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0719120330](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0719120330).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** *The Naval Chronicle*, Vol 28 p 210

## References

- Debritt, J. (1801). [*A Collection of State Papers Relative to the War Against France Now Carrying on by Great Britain and the Several Other European Powers ...*](https://books.google.com/books?id=93TH7PIHIIcC) A Collection of State Papers Relative to the War Against France Now Carrying on by Great Britain and the Several Other European Powers. J. Debrett.

- Gosset, William Patrick (1986). *The lost ships of the Royal Navy, 1793-1900*. Mansell. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-7201-1816-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7201-1816-6).

- Winfield, Rif (2008). *British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793–1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates*. Seaforth Publishing. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-86176-246-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-86176-246-7).

## External links

- Media related to [HMS Defence (1763)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:HMS_Defence_(1763)) at Wikimedia Commons

- [Ships of the World](https://web.archive.org/web/20050327073647/http://college.hmco.com/history/readerscomp/ships/html/sh_025600_hmsdefence1.htm) (via archive.org)

- [http://strandingsmuseet.dk](http://strandingsmuseet.dk)

- [Thorsminde](https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thorsminde) on Danish Wikipedia

v t e Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 1811 Shipwrecks 6 Jan: HMS Bold 29 Jan: Hannah 13 Feb: HMS Pandora 16 Feb: HMS Amethyst 18 Feb: HMS Duchess of York 23 Feb: HMS Shamrock 12 Mar: Favorite 25 Apr: HM hired armed cutter Swan 2 May: HMS Chichester, HMS Duncan 24 May: Adventure 16 Jun: Tonquin 29 Jun: HMS Firm June (unknown date): HMS Staunch 7 Jul: Rachel 17 Jul:&nbs[;Thames 22 Jul: Lady Penrhyn 29 Jul: HMS Guachapin July (unknown date): Thomas Henchman 18 Aug: HMS Tartar 21 Aug: HMS Tartar 14 Oct: HMS Pomone 21 Nov: HMS Grouper 30 Nov: Flore 4 Dec: HMS Saldanha 15 Dec: Polly 24 Dec: HMS Defence, HMS St George 25 Dec: Archimedes, HMS Hero December (unknown date): Gallant Schemer Unknown date: Anna, Ocean, HMS Toronto Varuna Other incidents 20 Feb: HMS Macedonian 21 Feb: HMS Franchise 24 Sep: HMS Hermes 31 Oct: HMS Calypso 1810 1812

[56°21′30″N 8°06′00″E / 56.3583°N 8.1°E / 56.3583; 8.1](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=HMS_Defence_(1763)&params=56.3583_N_8.1_E_source:kolossus-dewiki)

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