English ship Henrietta Maria

History
Royal Navy EnsignEngland
NameHenrietta Maria
BuilderGoddard, Deptford Dockyard
Launched1633
RenamedParagon, 1650
FateLost, 1655
General characteristics [1]
Class & type42-gun second rank ship of the line
Tons burthen793
Length110 ft (34 m) (keel)
Beam37 ft 6 in (11.43 m)
Depth of hold16 ft 2+1⁄2 in (4.9 m)
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Armament42 guns of various weights of shot

Henrietta Maria was a 42-gun second rank ship of the line of the English navy, launched at Deptford Dockyard in 1633. She was renamed Paragon in 1652, under which name she took parts in the Battles of Elba and Leghorn, and in William Penn's expedition to the West Indies. In 1655, she was lost following an accidental fire off of the coast of Cuba.

Construction

On 15 September 1631, Charles I placed an order for three new major warships, of which Henrietta Maria was one. This order was reduced to two ships in May 1632, and that October they were named Charles and Henrietta Maria after the king and queen. A further two ships (Unicorn and James) were ordered the following year.[2]

Henrietta Maria was built by Goddard at Deptford Dockyard and launched in 1633.[1]

Career

Henrietta Maria was commissioned in 1635 under Captain Thomas Porter.[2] In 1650, she was renamed Paragon whilst serving in the navy of the Commonwealth of England.

In August 1652, Paragon fought under the command of Richard Badiley in the Battle of Elba in the First Anglo-Dutch War, suffering 25 killed and 56 wounded, but evading capture. She then fought in the Battle of Leghorn in March 1653.[2]

In 1654, Paragon was deployed to the West Indies as part of a fleet under Admiral William Penn. Paragon served as at the flagship of the expedition's vice-admiral, William Goodson.[2]

Paragon was lost in 1655 off of the coast of Cuba, following an accidental fire. Around 100 crew members died.[1]

Paragon under the command of Richard Badiley during the Battle of Elba between the Staatse fleet under Van Galen and the English fleet, 1652

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Lavery, Ships of the Line vol.1, p158.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Winfield, Rif (2009). British Warships in the Age of Sail 1603–1714: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates (Epub ed.). Seaforth Publishing. pp. 183–5. ISBN 978-1-78346-924-6.

References

  • Lavery, Brian (1983) The Ship of the Line – Volume 1: The development of the battlefleet 1650-1850. Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-252-8.


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