{{short description|Royal Navy ship of the line}} {{other ships|HMS Ruby}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}} {{Use British English|date=January 2017}} {{Infobox ship |section1={{Infobox ship/image |image='Eagle' (1774); 'Vigilant' (1774); 'America' (1777); 'Ruby' (1776); 'Standard' (1782) RMG J3243.png |image_caption=''Ruby'' }}
|section2={{Infobox ship/career |hide_header= |country=Great Britain |flag={{shipboxflag|Kingdom of Great Britain|naval}} |name=HMS ''Ruby'' |ordered=30 November 1769 |builder=Woolwich Dockyard |laid_down=9 September 1772 |launched=26 November 1776 |acquired= |commissioned= |decommissioned= |in_service= |out_of_service= |renamed= |struck= |reinstated= |honours= |captured= |fate=Broken up, 1821 |notes= }}
|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics |hide_header= |header_caption=<ref name="Lavery, SoLv1 p181">Lavery, Ships of the Line, vol. 1, p. 181.</ref> |class={{sclass|Intrepid|ship of the line|3}} |tons_burthen=1369 (bm) |length={{convert|159|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}} (gundeck) |beam={{convert|44|ft|4|in|m|abbr=on}} |draught= |hold_depth={{convert|19|ft|m|abbr=on}} |sail_plan=Full-rigged ship |propulsion=Sails |complement= |armament=*Gundeck: 26 × 24-pounder guns *Upper gundeck: 26 × 18-pounder guns *QD: 10 × 4-pounder guns *Fc: 2 × 9-pounder guns |notes= }} }}
'''HMS ''Ruby''''' was a 64-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 26 November 1776 at Woolwich.<ref name="Lavery, SoLv1 p181" /> She was latterly in use as a receiving ship at Bermuda and was broken up in 1821.<ref name="Lavery, SoLv1 p181" />
==Service history== The British ships ''Ruby'', Captain Michael John Everitt, {{HMS|Aeolus|1758|2}} (or ''Eolus''), 32, and the sloop {{HMS|Jamaica|1779|2}}, 18, were cruising off Hayti, when on 2 June 1779, in the Bay of Gonave, they fell in with the 36-gun French frigate {{ship|French frigate|Prudente|1778|2}}, Captain d'Escars. ''Ruby'' chased ''Prudente'' for some hours and was much annoyed by the well-directed fire of the enemy's stern-chasers, by which Captain Everitt and a sailor lost their lives. When within easy range of ''Prudente'', at about sunset, ''Ruby'' compelled her to strike, with the loss of two killed and three wounded.<ref name="RGJ_12Jun17794">{{cite news|url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0002833%2F17790612&page=10 |title=Kingston |newspaper=Royal Gazette of Jamaica |date=12 June 1779|page=80 |via=British Newspaper Archive|access-date=3 March 2020}}</ref> The Royal Navy took ''Prudente'' into service under the same name.<ref name="CS_04oct1779">{{cite news|url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0004971%2F17791004&page=2&article=014&stringtohighlight=prudente+ruby |url-access=subscription |title=Saturday's post |newspaper=Coventry Standard|location=London|date=10 October 1779|page=2 |via=British Newspaper Archive|access-date=8 April 2024 |quote=The Prudente frigate, Capt Waldegrave (which was taken from the French) atrived at Portsmouth yeferday; she mounts 36 guns.}}</ref> [[File:Monument to Captain Everett RN - church of St Peter & St Paul, Fareham (geograph 2723978).jpg|thumb|left|Memorial to Captain Everitt in St Peter & St Paul church, Fareham]]
''Ruby'' was at Plymouth on 20 January 1795 and so shared in the proceeds of the detention of the Dutch naval vessels, East Indiamen, and other merchant vessels that were in port on the outbreak of war between Britain and the new Batavian Republic.<ref>{{London Gazette|date=15 September 1801|issue=15407|page=1145}}</ref>
''Ruby'', under Captain Henry Edwyn Stanhope,<ref>Boucher & Penn, eds, (1992), pg?.</ref> sailed with the first squadron (under Captain John Blankett) to take part in the first British occupation of the Cape, leaving England on 27 February 1795. There she was used on patrols and general duties but saw no action. The Battle of Muizenberg on 7 August 1795 triggered the collapse of the Dutch forces which controlled the Cape of Good Hope at the time.<ref>Potgieter (1997), pg?.</ref> thumb|Representation of the Distressed Situation of His Majesty's Ships ''Ruby'', ''Hector'', ''Berwick'' and ''Bristol'' when Dismasted in the Great Hurricane, 6 October 1780
Upon returning from the Cape to Chatham, it was determined ''Ruby'' was in too defective a state to be docked, so the ''Ruby'' was paid off in early October 1797.{{sfn|Naval Chronicle Vol.26|1811|p=8}}
On 13 July 1800 ''Ruby'' was escorting a convoy from St Helena to Great Britain when at {{coord|45|N|29|W}} when she sighted a strange sail that appeared to be a French privateer. Winds were light and next morning ''Ruby'' sighted the privateer some three miles ahead. ''Ruby'' was unable to catch the privateer, which made use of sweeps to remain just out of gunshot. Towards evening a breeze came up and ''Ruby'' succeeded in capturing the privateer at 1a.m. on 15 July.<ref name=LR15280/>
The privateer was {{ship||La Fortune|1800 ship|2}}, of Bordeaux. She was a new vessel, strongly built, fully copper-fastened, and a good sailer. She was on only her second cruise. She had been out a month but had succeeded only in capturing the brig ''Fame'', which had been sailing from Sierra Leone to London. ''La Fortune'' was armed with sixteen 18-pounder guns, four long iron 12-pounder guns, and two 36-pounder brass carronades. She had a complement of 202 men, but she had put 14 on board ''Fame'' as a prize crew. Captain Solomon Ferris, of ''Ruby'', recommended that the Navy acquire ''La Fortune''.<ref name=LR15280>{{London Gazette|date=29 July 1800 |issue=15280 |pages=876–877}}</ref>
{{for|more detail about the blockade of Lisbon to August 1808|Dmitry Senyavin#Lisbon incident}}
On 25 June 1807, Tsar Alexander I and Napoleon entered an accord at Tilsit, one of the secret clauses of which entailed the joint seizure of the Portuguese fleet. This led Napoleon to send a large army into Portugal in October 1807, with a demand that Portugal should detain all British ships and sequester British property. This led to the departure of a naval squadron under Sir Sidney Smith to blockade the Tagus estuary. The squadron consisted of the {{HMS|Hibernia|1804|2}} (110 guns), the {{HMS|London|1766|2}} (98), the {{HMS|Foudroyant|1798|2}} (80) and {{HMS|Elizabeth|1807|2}}, {{HMS|Conqueror|1801|2}}, {{HMS|Marlborough|1807|2}}, {{HMS|Monarch|1765|2}}, {{HMS|Plantagenet|1801|2}} and {{HMS|Bedford|1775|2}} (all 74s). On arrival Smith arranged for the Portuguese Royal Family, all the serviceable Portuguese fleet and 20 armed merchantmen to leave for Brazil, which they did on 29 October. Smith and his squadron accompanied them part of the way, leaving ''Marlborough'', ''London'', ''Monarch'' and ''Bedford'' to escort the fleet to Brazil. On 30 October 1807 a Russian squadron under Admiral Senyavin entered Lisbon, where they became blockaded by the return of Smith's squadron. A few days after the Tsar's hostile declaration became known in London, five ships left Portsmouth to reinforce the blockade. These were the {{HMS|Ganges|1782|2}}, {{HMS|Defence|1763|2}} and {{HMS|Alfred|1778|2}} (74s) with ''Ruby'' and {{HMS|Agamemnon|1781|2}} (64s). On arrival at the Tagus they enabled the ''Foudroyant'', ''Conqueror'' and ''Plantagenet'' to leave for Cadiz. <ref>Woodman (1997) p. 156-7</ref> A convention was signed whereby the Russian squadron was to be escorted by the Royal Navy to Portsmouth without lowering their colours. On 12 September, Senyavin's squadron set sail. On 7 October 1808, the squadron arrived at Portsmouth. {{efn| Extract from a letter written by a seaman, John Williams, on board HMS Ruby off Lisbon in June 1808 {{blockquote|"We are at present at anchor, at the mouth of the harbour, in sight of our Enemies. We are in sight of all of their Shipping, with a naked eye there is of them 13 Saile of the Line of Battle Ships & 25 Sloops and Brigs of War, all the Gun Boats we do not know the number of them. We are only 10 Saile of the Line and 2 Frigates 2 Sloops and Brigs. There is[sic] very heavy Batteries which the French has got, the possession of them one of them has mounted as many heavy guns as there is Days in a year. We expect orders to go in Every Day So Dear Brother Remember me in your prayer."}} All seems to have gone well, since on the 15th October 1808 John Williams again wrote home from HMS Ruby at Spithead.}}<ref name="ODA_30sep1808">{{cite news|url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0002430%2F18080930&page=2&article=016&stringtohighlight=ruby |title=Dispatches from Lisbon |newspaper=Oracle and the Daily Advertiser|location=London|date=30 September 1808|page=2 |via=British Newspaper Archive|access-date=7 Jul 2021 |quote= On the 12th the Barfleur, Rear-Admiral TYLER, with the Conqueror, Alfred, Donegal, Hercule, Elizabeth, and Ruby, sailed from Lisbon with the Russian fleet for Great Britain.—One Russian sail of the line was left in the Tagus.}}</ref><ref name="MP_10oct1898">{{cite news|url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0000174%2F18081010&page=4&article=022&stringtohighlight=ruby |url-access=subscription |title=Ship News. Portsmouth |newspaper=Morning Post|location=London|date=10 October 1808|page=4 |via=British Newspaper Archive|access-date=1 Jun 2013 |quote=Portsmouth, Oct. 7. — Arrived his Majesty's ships Barfleur, Alfred, Elizabeth, Donegal, Ruby, and Crocodile, with the Russian Fleet from the Tagus.}}</ref>
She was commanded by Captain Robert Hall in December 1808, and headed to the Baltic in June 1809. The following year, she was the flagship of Rear Admiral Manley Dixon.{{sfn|Naval Chronicle Vol.24|1810|pp=335,432-433}} She was commanded by Captain Matthew Bradby,{{sfn|Naval Chronicle Vol.24|1810|p=83}} and was then superseded by Commander Thomas White (acting) in July 1810.{{sfn|Naval Chronicle Vol.24|1810|p=171}}{{sfn|Winfield|2007|p=104}} Contemporary newspaper reports mention that in November 1810, she conveyed the former King of Sweden Gustav IV Adolf, before transferring him to the ''Victory'', to arrive at Yarmouth on 11 November 1810.<ref name="LC_18nov1810">{{cite news|url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0002634%2F18101114&page=8&article=032&stringtohighlight=ruby+sweden |url-access=subscription |title=Arrival of Gustavus of Sweden |newspaper=London Chronicle|location=London|date=14 November 1810|page=2 |via=British Newspaper Archive|access-date=25 August 2021 |quote=He made his escape from Riga on board an American vessel, and shortly after was received on board the Ruby British ship of war. On the 7th inst. he was put on board Sir James Saumarez's flag-ship the Victory... and from thence sent to England in a sloop of war.}}</ref> Ruby was paid off on 18 March 1811.<ref>{{citation |title=Folios 127-128: Thomas White, HMS Ruby, Chatham... the ship is being paid off. |id=ADM 1/2708/49 |series=Admiralty, Navy Department: Letters from Captains, Surnames W. |publisher=The National Archives UK |date=18 March 1811 |quote= Folios 127-128: Thomas White, HMS Ruby, Chatham. Encloses certificates for the Warrant Officers of HMS Ruby as required when the ship is being paid off. Folio 129: enclosure with folios 127-128. Thomas White, HMS Ruby, 13 March 1811. Certifies that Joseph Weir, Carpenter is a sober good officer. Folio 130: enclosure with folios 127-128. Thomas White, HMS Ruby, Chatham, 18 March 1811.}}</ref><ref>{{citation|title=Ship: Ruby (1809 Sept. 1 - 1811 Mar. 18). |series=Ships' Pay Books (Series III)|id=ADM 35/3046 |publisher=Navy Board: Navy Pay Office |via=The National Archives UK |year=1811}}</ref>
From April to June 1811, she was fitted out at Chatham as receiving ship for Bermuda.{{sfn|Winfield|2007|p=104}}<ref name="KG_9apr1811">{{cite news|url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0000235%2F18110409&page=4&article=013&stringtohighlight=ruby |url-access=subscription |title=Canterbury |newspaper=Kentish Gazette|date=9 April 1811|page=4 |via=British Newspaper Archive|access-date=6 March 2013 |quote=Chatham, April 7. The Ruby will he taken into dock as soon as the London is taken to pieces; she is now alongside the Jetty Head, fitting for a receiving ship to go to Bermuda.}}</ref><ref name="KG_30apr1811">{{cite news|url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0000235%2F18110430&page=4&article=012&stringtohighlight=ruby |url-access=subscription |title=Canterbury |newspaper=Kentish Gazette|date=30 April 1811|page=4 |via=British Newspaper Archive|access-date=6 March 2013 |quote=Chatham, April 28. The Ruby was docked Wednesday [24 April 1811].}}</ref><ref name="LS_28Jun1811">{{cite news|url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0002194%2F18110628&page=3&article=017&stringtohighlight=ruby |url-access=subscription |title=Naval News |newspaper=The Sun (1792–1876) |location=London |date=28 June 1811|page=3 |via=British Newspaper Archive|access-date=23 September 2019 |quote=Chatham, June 27. Sailed down the River and anchored at the Great Nore; his Majesty's ship Ruby.}}</ref> On 25 July 1811, HMS Ruby left Portsmouth and sailed to Bermuda.<ref name="Ruby_Spartan">{{cite news|url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0000361%2F18110729&page=4&article=013&stringtohighlight=ruby+store+ship |url-access=subscription |title=Port News. Portsmouth |newspaper=Salisbury and Winchester Journal|date=29 July 1811|page=4 |via=British Newspaper Archive|access-date=27 June 2012 |quote=Sir George Cockburn, Governor of Bermuda, sailed Thursday [25 July 1811] for that island, in the Spartan, of 44 guns, Capt. Edward Brenton, which had the Ruby store-ship under convoy, with a large quantity naval stores of every description, it being intended to form a naval depot and arsenal at Bermuda.}}</ref> On 21 October 1811, Commodore Evans put the ''Tourterelle'' out of commission, and transferred her crew to ''Ruby''.<ref>{{citation|title=Folios 377-378: Andrew Evans, HMS Ruby, Bermuda...put HMS Tourterelle out of Commission on 21 October |series=Navy Department: Correspondence and Papers|id=ADM 1/1771/132 |publisher=Admiralty Office |via=The National Archives UK |date=23 October 1815 |quote=Commodore Andrew Evans, HMS Ruby, Bermuda. Confirms that in accordance with Vice Admiral Sawyer's order put HMS Tourterelle, late under his command, out of Commission on 21 October [1811] and turned her crew over to HMS Ruby.}}</ref> During 1812, HMS Ruby was used as the Receiving Ship at Bermuda, under Lt. Peter Trounce, then Lt James Ward in 1813, Lt James Knight thereafter in 1815.{{sfn|Winfield|2007|p=104}} Black refugees from the Chesapeake were quartered aboard ''Ruby'' during 1813.<ref>Weiss, within {{harvnb|Bermuda Dockyard and the War of 1812|pp=77-78,80}}</ref> The resident Commissioner of the Navy at Bermuda, Commodore Andrew Fitzherbert Evans, had his broad pendant flying on board the Ruby in 1816 and 1817,{{sfn|Marshall|1824|p=125}} continuing on since 1812.{{sfn|Winfield|2007|p=104}} The ship remained in Bermuda and was broken up there in April of 1821.<ref>{{cite web |title=British Third Rate ship of the line 'Ruby' (1776) |work=Ships |url=https://threedecks.org/index.php?display_type=show_ship&id=365 |via=Three Decks - the premier web resource for researching naval history during the Age of Sail |accessdate=18 March 2013 }}</ref>{{sfn|Winfield|2007|p=104}}
==Notes== {{notelist}} ==Citations== {{reflist}}
==References== {{refbegin}} * {{cite book |editor-last1=Boucher |editor-first1=Maurice |editor-last2=Penn |editor-first2=Nigel |date=1992 |title=Britain at the Cape, 1795 to 1803 |publisher=The Brenthurst Press |location=Houghton, Johannesburg |isbn=978-0-90-907950-5}} * {{cite book |last=Lavery |first=Brian |date=1983 |title=The Ship of the Line - Volume 1: The development of the battlefleet 1650-1850 |publisher=Conway Maritime Press |isbn=0-85177-252-8}}. * {{cite RNB1823 |wstitle=Evans, Andrew Fitzherbert |volume=II |part=1 |page=125}} * {{cite journal |editor-last=MacDougall |editor-first=Philip |title=Bermuda Dockyard and the War of 1812 |journal=Transactions of the Naval Dockyard Society |volume=10 |date=April 2017 |orig-date=9 June 2012 |at=conference held at the National Museum of Bermuda, Royal Naval Dockyard |ref={{harvid|Bermuda Dockyard and the War of 1812}} |isbn=978-0-9929292-1-3}} * {{cite book |last=Potgieter |first=TD |date=1997 |title=The First British Occupation of the Cape |publisher=Castle Military Museum |location=Cape Town |isbn=978-0-62-021068-3}} * {{cite book |last=Winfield |first=Rif |date=2007 |title=British Warships in the Age of Sail 1714–1792: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates |publisher=Seaforth Publishing |isbn=978-1-84415-700-6}} * {{cite book |last=Woodman |first=Richard |date=1997 |title=The Victory of Seapower: Winning the Napoleonic War 1806-1814 |series=Caxton Pictorial Histories |publisher=Caxton |isbn=978-1-84-067359-3}} {{refend}} * {{Citation |title=The Naval Chronicle |volume=24 |publisher=Joyce Gold |location=London |url=https://archive.org/details/navalchronicleco24londiala/mode/2up?q=Ruby |year=1810 |ref={{harvid|Naval Chronicle Vol.24|1810}} }} * {{Citation |title=The Naval Chronicle |volume=26 |publisher=Joyce Gold |location=London |url=https://archive.org/details/navalchronicleco26londiala/page/8/mode/1up?q=Ruby |year=1811 |ref={{harvid|Naval Chronicle Vol.26|1811}} }}
==External links== * {{Commons category-inline|HMS Ruby (ship, 1776)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ruby (1776)}} Category:Ships of the line of the Royal Navy Category:Intrepid-class ships of the line Category:1776 ships Category:War of 1812 ships of the United Kingdom