HMS Tonnant

HMS Tonnant was an 80-gun ship of the line that began its career as the French warship Tonnant. Captured by the Royal Navy at the Battle of the Nile in 1798, she became a formidable asset in the Napoleonic Wars. Under the British flag, she served with distinction in several major fleet actions, including the Battle of Trafalgar, and later saw service in the War of 1812. The ship was eventually broken up at Portsmouth in 1821.

History

The vessel was originally built as the French 80-gun ship Tonnant at the Toulon dockyard, launching in 1789. She entered service with the French Navy during the French Revolutionary Wars. Her early career was spent in the Mediterranean Sea, where she formed part of the fleet under François-Paul Brueys d'Aigalliers. Her operational history changed irrevocably on 1 August 1798, when she was engaged by the British fleet under Horatio Nelson at the Battle of the Nile. After a fierce duel with several British ships, including HMS ''Majestic'', the heavily damaged Tonnant was captured. She was formally taken into the Royal Navy on 2 August 1798, retaining her name but with the prefix "HMS".

Design and description

As built, Tonnant was a powerful example of a French 80-gun third rate ship of the line, a type highly regarded for its balance of firepower and sailing qualities. Her design followed the principles of French naval architect Jacques-Noël Sané, emphasizing strong hull lines and heavy armament. When taken into British service, she was rated as an 80-gun ship, carrying a main battery of 32-pounder guns on her lower deck and 18-pounder guns on her upper deck. Following her capture, she underwent a significant refit at Portsmouth Dockyard, where she was coppered and her armament was standardized to Royal Navy patterns. Her dimensions were approximately 194 feet in length and 51 feet in beam, with a displacement near 2,200 tons.

Service record

HMS Tonnant had an active and illustrious service career under the British flag. After repairs and refitting, she joined the Channel Fleet. Her most famous engagement was at the Battle of Trafalgar on 21 October 1805, where, under Captain Charles Tyler, she was part of the weather column led by HMS ''Victory''. During the battle, she engaged the French ships ''Algésiras'' and ''Montañés'', sustaining significant casualties but capturing Algésiras. Later, during the War of 1812, she served as the flagship for Vice-Admiral Alexander Cochrane during campaigns in the Chesapeake Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. In this role, she was present at the Battle of Baltimore in 1814 and later served as the venue for British negotiations prior to the Battle of New Orleans.

Commanding officers

Command of HMS Tonnant was held by several notable officers of the period. Her first British captain was Sir Edward Berry, who oversaw her initial refit. At the Battle of Trafalgar, she was commanded by Captain Charles Tyler, who was severely wounded during the action. Subsequent commanders included Captain John Tailour and Captain James Bowen. During the War of 1812, she flew the flag of Vice-Admiral Alexander Cochrane, with Captain Charles Kerr serving as her captain. Her final commanding officer before being placed in ordinary was Captain John Wentworth Loring.

Fate

Following the end of the Napoleonic Wars, HMS Tonnant was relegated to harbour service. She was used as a receiving ship at Portsmouth for several years. By 1821, having been deemed obsolete and in poor condition, the Admiralty ordered her to be broken up. The dismantling process was completed at Portsmouth in March 1821, ending the career of one of the most famous captured ships in Royal Navy service.

Category:Ships of the line of the Royal Navy Category:Captured ships Category:French Revolutionary Wars ships of the line Category:Napoleonic Wars ships of the line