HMS Resolution was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line

Ship of the line

A ship of the line was a type of naval warship constructed from the 17th through the mid-19th century to take part in the naval tactic known as the line of battle, in which two columns of opposing warships would manoeuvre to bring the greatest weight of broadside guns to bear...

 of the Royal Navy

Royal Navy

The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...

, launched on 14 December 1758 at Northam.

On 20 November the following year, Resolution took part in the decisive Battle of Quiberon Bay

Battle of Quiberon Bay

The naval Battle of Quiberon Bay took place on 20 November 1759 during the Seven Years' War in Quiberon Bay, off the coast of France near St. Nazaire...

 captained by Henry Speke. Just before 4pm she took the surrender of the French ship Formidable

French ship Formidable (1751)

Formidable was an 80-gun ship of the line of the French Navy, launched in 1751.She fought at the Battle of Quiberon Bay on 20 November 1759, where she served as the flagship of De Saint André du Vergé. captured her at the battle and the Admiralty commissioned her in the Royal Navy as the Third...

. However after a stormy night she was found the following morning to have run aground on the Four Shoal and dismasted.