HMS Audacious (1785)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Audacious.

HMS Audacious was a 74-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 23 July 1785 at Rotherhithe.^[1] She was the first ship to bear the name.

Audacious
History
Great Britain
Name	HMS Audacious
Builder	Randall, Rotherhithe
Laid down	August 1783
Launched	23 July 1785
Fate	Broken up, August 1815
Notes	Participated in: Battle of the Nile
General characteristics [1]
Class & type	Arrogant-class ship of the line
Tons burthen	1624 bm
Length	168 ft (51 m) (gundeck)
Beam	46 ft 9 in (14.25 m)
Depth of hold	19 ft 9 in (6.02 m)
Propulsion	Sails
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Armament	74 guns: Gundeck: 28 × 32-pounders Upper gundeck: 28 × 18-pounders Quarterdeck: 14 × 9-pounders Forecastle: 4 × 9-pounders

She was among the group of ships that dismasted the French three-decker Révolutionnaire before the Glorious First of June. She also took part in the Battle of the Nile, under Captain Davidge Gould, where she engaged the French ship Conquérant and helped to force her surrender.

She was finally broken up in August 1815.^[1]