HMS Lizard (1697)

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

HMS Lizard was a member of the standardized 20-gun sixth rates built at the end of the 17th century. She was commissioned for service in the East Indies, then Mediterranean, followed by Home Waters in the Irish Sea. She was sold in 1714.

History
England
Name	HMS Lizard
Ordered	1 July 1696
Builder	Royal Dockyard, Sheerness
Launched	29 March 1697
Commissioned	29 March 1697
Fate	Sold 29 July 1714
General characteristics
Type	20-gun Sixth Rate
Tons burthen	263+70⁄94 bm
Length	95 ft 0 in (29.0 m) gundeck 79 ft 4 in (24.2 m) keel for tonnage
Beam	25 ft 0 in (7.6 m) for tonnage
Depth of hold	10 ft 10 in (3.3 m)
Armament	initially as ordered 20 × sakers on wooden trucks (UD) 4 × 3-pdr on wooden trucks (QD) 1703 Establishment 20 × 6-pdrs on wooden trucks (UD) 4 × 4-pdr on wooden trucks (QD)

Lizard was the fifth ship to bear this name since it was used for a 120 builder's measure ship listed from 1512 to 1522.

Construction

She was ordered in the Fourth Batch of four ships from Sheerness Dockyard to be built under the guidance of their Master Shipwright, Robert Shortiss. She was launched on 29 March 1697.

Commissioned service

She was commissioned on 29 March 1697 under the command of Captain William Johnson, RN for service in the Channel. She was assigned to the East Indies in 1698. On the death of Captain Johnson on the 31st of August, Captain Edward Rumsey, RN took over on i September 1699. On 8 July 1700 Captain George Martin, RN took command. 1702, she was under the command of Captain Rupert Billingsley, RN followed in 1703 by Captain George Doleman, RN while serving in the Mediterranean. On 14 July 1704 she had a new commander, Captain George Fane, RN and assigned to Home Waters. In 1705 Captain Josiah Mighells, RN was in command in the Irish Sea. Captain Mighells died on 30 August 1707. In 1708 Commander Nicholas Smith, RN was in command followed by Commander Francis Cooper, RN and finally in 1710, Commander Arthur Jones, RN (promoted to captain 1 January 1713) while serving in the Irish Sea

Disposition

HMS Lizard was sold on 29 March 1714.

References

• Winfield, British Warships in the Age of Sail (1603 – 1714), by Rif Winfield, published by Seaforth Publishing, England © 2009, EPUB ISBN 9781783469246, Chapter 6, The Sixth Rates, Vessels acquired from 18 December 1688, Sixth Rates of 20 guns and up to 26 guns, Maidstone Group, Lizard
• Colledge, Ships of the Royal Navy, by J.J. Colledge, revised and updated by Lt Cdr Ben Warlow and Steve Bush, published by Seaforth Publishing, Barnsley, Great Britain, © 2020, e ISBN 978-1-5267-9328-7 (EPUB), Section L (Lizard)