Nossa Senhora da Conceição was launched at Lisbon on 13 July 1771 for the Portuguese Navy as a first rate ship of the line of 90 guns. In 1793 she was the flagship of the squadron that the Portuguese Navy provided to assist the British Royal Navy's Channel Fleet. The next year the Portuguese government refitted her and changed her name to Príncipe Real. In 1798-1800 Príncipe Real served in the Mediterranean as the flagship of the Portuguese squadron assisting Admiral Nelson.
 Príncipe Real arriving in Rio de Janeiro with the Portuguese royal family
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Kingdom of Portugal | |
| Name | Nossa Senhora da Conceição |
| Namesake | Immaculate Conception |
| Owner | Kingdom of Portugal |
| Builder | Arsenal Real da Marinha |
| Launched | 13 July 1771 |
| Renamed | to Príncipe Real in 1794 |
 U.K. of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves | |
| Name | Príncipe Real |
| Namesake | Prince Royal of Portugal |
 Empire of Brazil | |
| Name | Príncipe Real |
| Decommissioned | 1830 |
| Fate | Scrapped |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Ship of the line |
| Length | 67 metres (219 ft 10 in) |
| Beam | 16.5 metres (54 ft 2 in) |
| Depth | 12 metres (39 ft 4 in) |
| Armament | 90 cannons |
In mid-September 1798, a squadron of Portuguese ships arrived at Malta during the two-year British siege. The Portuguese squadron included Príncipe Real (90; Captain Puysigur), Rainha de Portugal (74; Captain Thomas Stone), São Sebastião (74; Captain Mitchell), Afonso de Albuquerque (64; Captain Donald Campbell), and the brig Falcão (24; Captain Duncan). Four of the captains were British, and all were under the command of Domingos Xavier de Lima, Marquess of Niza.[1] In addition, the British ship HMS Lion (Captain Manley Dixon) and the fireship HMS Incendiary (Captain George Baker) were attached to the squadron. The Portuguese government had sent this force from the Tagus to augment Nelson's fleet. After a brief stay off Malta the squadron continued to Alexandria. There Nelson sent the squadron back to blockade Malta.[2]
HMS Foudroyant departed Naples on 6 August 1799, in company with the frigate Syren, and Príncipe Real. Foudroyant also transported the Sardinian royal family to Leghorn on 22 September.
On 18 October 1800, an Anglo-Portuguese squadron shared in the capture of the Ragusan polacca Madonna Della Gratia e San Gaetano, which was carrying plate, amongst other cargo. The British vessels were Alexander, Terpsichore, Bonne Citoyenne and Incendiary, and the Portuguese vessels Príncipe Real, Rainha de Portugal, Afonso de Albuquerque, and the corvette Benjamin.[3]
During the transfer of the Portuguese Court to Brazil in 1807-08, Príncipe Real was the flagship of the Portuguese flotilla.
Fate edit
Príncipe Real remained in Brazil after Brazil achieved its independence in 1823.
Citations edit
- ^ James, Vol. 2, p. 188
- ^ Clowes, p. 376
- ^ "No. 15810". The London Gazette. 25 May 1805. p. 709.
References edit
- Clowes, William Laird (1997) [1900]. The Royal Navy, A History from the Earliest Times to 1900, Volume IV. Chatham Publishing. ISBN 1-86176-013-2.
- James, William (2002) [1827]. The Naval History of Great Britain, Volume 2, 1797–1799. Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-906-9.
- Marques Esparteiro, Comandante António Marques (1976) Catálogo Dos Navios Brigantinos (1640-1910). (Lisbon: Centro de Estudos de Marinha)