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ACHILLES
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(60) |
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Built in 1757, Harwich.
Hulk 1780.
Sold in 1784. |
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- 1758 Capt. Hon. Samuel BARRINGTON. Coast of France. Detached with DORSETSHIRE (70) on 29 May in chase of the French RAISONNABLE (64) then on passage for Louisbourg. DORSETSHIRE had engaged her, killing 61 and wounding 100, before ACHILLES came up and clinched it, for the loss of 15 killed and 20 wounded. RAISONNABLE was taken into the Royal Navy.
- 1759 On 4 April ACHILLES captured the large French privateer LE COMTE DE ST. FLORENTINE (60) off Cape Finisterre as described in a letter from Capt. BARRINGTON to Mr Cleveland.
On board his majesty's ship Achilles, Falmouth. April 16th. 1759
Sir, I have the pleasure to acquaint you of my arrival here, with the Count de Florentin, of 60 guns and 403 men, from Cape Francois bound for Rochefort, commanded by the Sieur de Montay, whom I took on the 4th. instant, in lat. 44.15. sixty leagues to the westward of Cape Finisterre, after a close engagement of two hours, in which I was so fortunate as only to have two men killed, and 23 wounded, with my masts, sails and rigging, much cut and damaged.
The loss on the enemy side was very considerable, having all his masts shot away, with 116 men killed and wounded, among the latter, the captain, with a musquet-ball through his body, of which he died two days after
I beg you will acquaint their lordships of the very gallant behaviour of my officers and people upon this occasion.
I am &c.
SAMUEL BARRINGTON
P. S. Three of my wounded are since dead, likewise a great number of the enemy's
The prize was taken into the Royal Navy as the ST. FLORENTINE. - From a letter from on board ACHILLES off Brest, October 1759.
"The 28th. of last month, Commodore Hervey (our ship belongs to his squadron) ordered all the barges to come on board his ship in the afternoon. At night we in the Monmouth's barge, with four other barges, I was in ours, and having rowed until near one in the morning, we got into a bay close to the French fleet, in order to attack a little yacht belonging to the French Admiral. As soon as Commodore Hervey, who led us, got sight of the fort, under which the vessel lay, the yacht hailed the Monmouth's boat, and fired; we immediately all fired our small arms, and pulled on board as fast as possible. The commodore himself and his people were first on board, and carried her through all their fire. We boarded next, to follow their brave example. We found them with swords and pistols at hand; the French running under deck, begging for their lives. Our people cut her cable, and our boats brought her out in the midst of incessant firing from the shore. We found ourselves in great danger, nevertheless we towed and hallowed all the way, In the morning we were met by the rest of the ship's boats. We got to our ships not a little tired, nor a little pleased at a conquest that might have been more clearly bought; but nothing could have been done here so mortifying to the French. All the wounded prisoners were sent in a flag of truce. The commodore, who received no hurt, a shot only passing through his coat, has generously given up all his share of the prize and head money to the people who went in the barges with him; and we believe that all the captains of his squadron will follow so worthy an example."
With the flag of Rear Ad. George Brydges RODNEY, Channel. In command of a squadron of four 50-gun ships with five frigates, a sloop and six bomb-ketches which was sent against L'Havre on 3 July to destroy landing barges which had been assembled there for an invasion of England. A great deal of damage was done by the bombs which threw shells from the Honfleur channel with negligible loss. ACHILLES and some of the frigates remained off Le Havre for the rest of the year. - On 29 March 1762 ACHILLES was with a squadron of men of war, and 100 transports with 10,000 troops, under the command of Commodore KEPPEL and Major General Hodgson, which sailed from St. Helens to attack Belleisle.
On 7 April the fleet anchored in the Palais road and the following day, under the cover of ACHILLES and DRAGON, a landing was attempted in the Sandy Bay near Point Lomaria in the south east. ACHILLES, which was in position first, silenced the fort and other works before the flat boats, under Capt. BARTON of TEMERAIRE were sent in. The French were strongly entrenched and the attackers were obliged to withdraw with 500 killed, wounded and taken prisoner.
On the 8 April they attempted a landing at Port Andro, a sandy bay near Locmaria point in the south of the island under cover of fire from ACHILLES and DRAGON, but the army was unable to force the enemy line and lost 500, killed, wounded and taken prisoner. A second attempt was made on the 22nd to land on a rocky shore to make a descent on Fort d'Arsie. While two feints were made, ACHILLES, DRAGON and SANDWICH directed their fire on the hills to silence the enemy batteries. The rest of the fleet anchored about 10 o'clock and kept up a continuous fire until all the troops were landed. About 2 o'clock SWIFTSURE made a signal for all boats to assemble and at three, with marines, part of Stewart's and Crawford's regiments and grenadiers, they pulled for the shore, The French retreated to le Palais where they put up an obstinate defence and it was 7 June before a breach was made. Major General Crawford was captured during a French sortie. The French retreated to the Citadel before capitulating and surrendering the island. 2,600 men marched out with the honours of war after losses of 922.
Capt. BARRINGTON and Capt. Rooke, Gen. Hodgson's aide-de-camp, took the dispatches to England and each received 500 pounds from the king. - 1767 Capt. Hon. Raby VANE, from ARETHUSA, appointed to ACHILLES, a guardship at Portsmouth. He died on 23rd. Oct. 1769.
- 1769 Capt. John WHEELOCK, guardship at Portsmouth. he removed to MODESTE (64), in 1771.
- 1771 Capt. Richard COLLINS, continuing in command for the customary three years.
- ACHILLES was hulked in 1780 and sold in June 1784.
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