Defence by Derek Gardner

The 74 gun ship–of–the–line Defence, one of England’s famous ‘ wooden walls’ on which the protection of the kingdom chiefly relied, was launched in 1763 and had a distinguished
career which spanned almost fifty years. During the 25 years between 1780 and 1805 the Defence took part in no less than six fleet actions. The first was with Rodney at the Moonlight Battle off Cape St. Vincent in 1780 followed by Cuddalore in 1783. When war with Revolutionary France broke out 10 years later, she became part of the Channel Fleet under Lord Howe and fought in the Battle of the Glorious First of June 1794 where she was badly damaged and totally dismissed.

Later she fought with Nelson at his great victories of the Nile (1798), Copenhagen (1801) and Trafalgar (1805). Her end in 1811 was tragic. In a winter storm in the North Sea when returning home from the Baltic, she went to the assistance of the disabled 98-Gun St. George off the Jutland coast. Both ships were driven ashore with the terrible loss of 1314 officers and men out of 1335.

Derek Gardner’s beautiful and tranquil painting portrays ‘Defence’ leaving the fleet anchorage in Torbay, Devon in 1794 when she was serving with the Channel Fleet.

Image size: 19.25" x 13.5"

Edition size 750 All copies signesd by the artist

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