HMS Kent (1762)

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

HMS Kent was a 74-gun Bellona-class third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, designed by Sir Thomas Slade and built by Adam Hayes at Deptford Dockyard and launched on 23 March 1762 .^[1]

HMS Kent flying the White Ensign (including the pre-1801 Union Flag), from 'The Fleet Offshore' (1780–1790), a piece of anonymous folk art now at Compton Verney Art Gallery.
History
Great Britain
Name	HMS Kent
Ordered	20 March 1759
Builder	Deptford Dockyard
Launched	23 March 1762
Fate	Sold out of the service, 1784
General characteristics [1]
Class & type	Bellona-class ship of the line
Tons burthen	1,61725⁄94 (bm)
Length	168 ft (51 m) (gundeck)
Beam	46 ft 9 in (14.25 m)
Draught	21 ft 6 in (6.55 m)
Depth of hold	19 ft 9 in (6.02 m)
Propulsion	Sails
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Armament	74 guns: Gundeck: 28 × 32 pdrs Upper gundeck: 28 × 18 pdrs Quarterdeck: 14 × 9 pdrs Forecastle: 4 × 9 pdrs

Service history

She was launched at a cost of £40,000.^[2]

In 1774, a chest containing perhaps as much as 400 lb (180 kg) of gunpowder exploded during saluting, killing eleven and injuring 34, and causing the marine drummer sitting on the chest to be blown overboard. The marine reportedly suffered no injuries as a result.^[3] In 1775 Kent was briefly under the command of John Jervis.^[4]

She was sold out of the service at Plymouth in 1784 for £600.^[1]

Notable Commanders

• Captain Robert Faulknor 1762/3
• Captain Edward Vernon briefly in 1763
• Captain Charles Fielding 1772 to 1775
• Captain John Jervis briefly in 1775
• Captain James Cook 1775