English ship Lion (1557)

Golden Lion (also sometimes Red Lion)[Note 1] was a ship of the English Tudor navy, launched in 1557. She was rebuilt for the first time in 1582.

English ship (Lion) c.1648, by Willem van de Velde the Elder
History
English FlagEngland
NameGolden Lion
Launched1557
RenamedLion
FateSold, 1698
General characteristics as built
PropulsionSails
General characteristics after 1582 rebuild
PropulsionSails
General characteristics after 1609 rebuild[1]
Class and type38-gun great ship
Tons burthen650
Length91 ft (28 m) (keel)
Beam34 ft 6 in (10.52 m)
Depth of hold16 ft (4.9 m)
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Armament38 guns of various weights of shot
General characteristics after 1640 rebuild[2]
Tons burthen626
Length95 ft (29 m) (keel)
Beam33 ft (10 m)
Depth of hold15 ft (4.6 m)
Sail planFull-rigged ship
General characteristics after 1658 rebuild[3]
Class and type48-gun third rate ship of the line
Tons burthen717
Length112 ft (34 m) (keel)
Beam35 ft 4 in (10.77 m)
Depth of hold15 ft 6 in (4.72 m)
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Armament48 guns of various weights of shot

By the time of her second rebuild, in 1609, she was known as Lion. She was rebuilt at Deptford as a Great ship of 38 guns.[1]

In 1613 The Lion was appointed to escort Princess Elizabeth, daughter of James VI and I, and Frederick V of the Palatinate sailing in The Prince Royal from Margate to Ostend.[4]

In 1640 she was rebuilt again, this time at Woolwich.[2] She was rebuilt for a final time at Chatham in 1658, as a 48-gun third rate ship of the line.[3] By 1677 Lion was mounting 60 guns.[3]

She was sold out of the navy in 1698.[3]

Notes

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  1. ^ The 'HMS' prefix was not used until the middle of the Eighteenth Century, but is sometimes applied retrospectively

Citations

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  1. ^ a b Lavery, Ships of the Line Vol. 1, p. 158.
  2. ^ a b Lavery, Ships of the Line Vol. 1, p. 159.
  3. ^ a b c d Lavery, Ships of the Line Vol. 1, p. 160.
  4. ^ Foedera, 7 (The Hague, 1739), p. 189

References

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  • 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.