HMS Chester (1691)

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

HMS Chester was a 50-gun fourth rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched 21 March 1691. She was ordered on 20 March 1690 to be built at Woolwich Dockyard by Master Shipwright Joseph Lawrence - on the same day as her stable-mate Centurion (to be built at Deptford Dockyard), and six days after the first ship of this batch (the Chatham to be built at Chatham Dockyard) - to a similar design to the prototype of this "123-ft" type - the Sedgemoor of 1687. She was launched on 21 March 1691 (15 days after the Centurion and 30 days before the Chatham).

History
Great Britain
Name	HMS Chester
Ordered	20 March 1690
Builder	Joseph Lawrence, Woolwich Dockyard
Launched	21 March 1691
Captured	1707
General characteristics
Class and type	50-gun fourth rate ship of the line
Tons burthen	663 55/94 bm
Length	125 ft 1 in (38.1 m) (gundeck) 105 ft 10 in (32.3 m) (keel
Beam	34 ft 4 in (10.5 m)
Depth of hold	13 ft 10.25 in (4.2 m)
Propulsion	Sails
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Armament	50 guns of various weights of shot

A print published in France shows the Chester during the Action of 2 May 1707 off Beachy Head

She was captured by the French 56-gun privateer Jason at the Battle at The Lizard on 21 October 1707.

See also

• List of ships captured in the 18th century

References

• Lavery, Brian (2003) The Ship of the Line – Volume 1: The development of the battlefleet 1650-1850. Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-252-8.
• Winfield, Rif (1997), The 50-Gun Ship: A Complete History. Chatham Publishing (1st edition); Mercury Books (2nd edition 2005). ISBN 1-845600-09-6.
• Winfield, Rif (2009), British Warships in the Age of Sail 1603–1714: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-040-6.