Elephant
Below is some genealogy information on the Elephant, a ship from the Royal Navy, that may help searches for military ancestors.
Theatres of War, Army Regiments, Naval Detachments, RAF
Building of the Royal Navy (900-1793).
Description: The first ship to bear the name HMS Elephant was a storeship bought in 1705. She was hulked in 1709.
The second ship to bear this name was a 10-gun storeship bought in 1776. She was sold in 1779.
The third ship to bear this name was a 74-gun third-rate launched in 1786.
French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars
Description: In 1800 she captured the Providence (with HMS Suwarrow and HMS Naiad). Made famous for its captaincy by Nelson in the battle of Copenhagen, the HMS Elephant led the attack against the Danish fleet. Recent political changes in Europe had changed the stance of the new Russian Tzar, leading to their withdrawal from the war against France. As a consequence, Denmark were pressured into signing a neutrality pact with Russia and France which threatened British trading in the Baltic. A British fleet was send to 'mediate' with Denmark. The result of the battle, largely due to Nelson's ignoring of orders, was a resounding British victory. The Danes subsequently withdrew from the pact and thanks to the assassination of the Russian Tzar at the same time the French lost their allies. In 1801 she captured the Duquesne. In 1803 she captured the French ship Poisson Volant (with HMS Vanguard, HMS Cumberland, HMS Hercule and HMS Bellerophon). She was taken into service as HMS Flying Fish. In 1812 she captured the Swordfish (with HMS Phoebe and HMS Hermes).
French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars
Description: She was broken up in 1830.
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