French ship Magnifique (1749)

For other ships with the same name, see French ship Magnifique.

Magnifique was the lead ship of the 3-ship Magnifique class 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.

A 74-gun French ship of the line similar to Magnifique
History
France
Name	Magnifique
Builder	Toulon
Laid down	1747
Launched	7 March 1749
Fate	Grounded on sandbar off Lovells Island, Boston 1782
General characteristics
Class & type	Magnifique class ship of the line
Displacement	1500 tonnes
Length	53.6 m (176 ft)
Beam	14 m (46 ft)
Draught	6.6 m (22 ft)
Propulsion	Sail
Complement	678 men
Armament	74 guns
Armour	Timber

Career

In 1760, Magnifique was under Duchaffault, and patrolled off Martinique, along with Hébé, under La Touche Beauregard.^[1]

Captain Brach captained Magnifique at the Battle of Ushant on 27 July 1778,^[2] at the Battle of Grenada on 6 July 1779,^[3] and at the Battle of Martinique on 17 April 1780.^[4]

Fate

On 15 August 1782, Magnifique was wrecked along the rocky shore of Lovells Island, in Boston Harbor, MA, USA. She was rumoured to have been carrying "long-lost treasure."^[5] According to a US National Park Service Guide, the submerged vessel is still visible from N 42° 19.902’ W 070° 55.818’ during periods of calm.^[6]

On 3 September 1782 the Continental Congress decided to present the ship of the line America to King Louis XVI of France to replace Magnifique. The gift was to symbolize the new nation's "appreciation for France's service to and sacrifices in behalf of the cause of the American patriots".^[7]