HMS Defiance (1744)

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

HMS Defiance was a 58-gun fourth rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built to the dimensions laid out in the 1741 proposals of the 1719 Establishment at Deptford, and launched on 12 October 1744.^[1]

Defiance (foreground, left of centre) at the action of 8 June 1755
History
Great Britain
Name	HMS Defiance
Builder	West, Deptford
Launched	12 October 1744
Honours & awards	Second battle of Cape Finisterre, 1747
Fate	Sold, 1766
General characteristics [1]
Class & type	1741 proposals 58-gun fourth rate ship of the line
Tons burthen	1136
Length	147 ft (44.8 m) (gundeck)
Beam	42 ft (12.8 m)
Depth of hold	18 ft 1 in (5.5 m)
Propulsion	Sails
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Armament	58 guns: Gundeck: 24 × 24 pdrs Upper gundeck: 24 × 12 pdrs Quarterdeck: 8 × 6 pdrs Forecastle: 2 × 6 pdrs

In November 1745 she encountered her fellow Royal Navy vessel HMS Hampton Court. The crew of both vessels mistook the other for a French man-o-war and opened fire at long range. The engagement ended after half an hour, when the crew aboard Defiance observed British markings on the cannonballs striking their ship and signaled for a truce.^[2]

During the Seven Years' War, the Defiance was part of the 1758 Royal Navy fleet assembled to attack the French fortress at Louisbourg. Before the siege, she captured a French ship that was carrying much-needed provisions and military supplies from France to the fortress.^[3]

Defiance was sold out of the Navy in 1766.^[1]