Spanish ship Principe de Asturias (1784)
Encyclopedia
The Príncipe de Asturias was a Spanish three-deck 112-gun ship of the line, named after Ferdinand, eldest surviving son of Charles IV of Spain
. She was built in Havana
in 1794 to designs by Romero Landa and launched on 28 January 1794.
on 17 May 1795 escorting a valuable convoy. In 1797 she gained a new commander, Antonio de Escaño
, and was sent out as part of a squadron under general José de Córdova to escort another convoy. After completing that mission, shortly before reaching Cadiz the squadron was surprised by a sudden storm and made for Saint Vincent
, meeting a British squadron on 14 February 1797 in the Battle of Cape St Vincent, with Príncipe de Asturias having 10 killed and 19 wounded.
At she flew the flag of general Federico Gravina, who died a year later from wounds he gained during the battle, with Rafael Hore as his flag captain. The ship suffered 50 killed and 110 wounded and after the battle she had to be towed by the French frigate
Thémis
and then undergo major repairs in Cadiz. She then fought in the Peninsular War
, capturing the French ships Heros, Neptune, Algesiras, Vainqueur, Plutón and the frigate Cornelie. In September 1810 she and the Santa Ana crossed the Atlantic to Havana to avoid capture by the French. She struck a rock in 1814 and was scrapped in 1817.
Charles IV of Spain
Charles IV was King of Spain from 14 December 1788 until his abdication on 19 March 1808.-Early life:...
. She was built in Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
in 1794 to designs by Romero Landa and launched on 28 January 1794.
Service
She arrived in CadizCádiz
Cadiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the homonymous province, one of eight which make up the autonomous community of Andalusia....
on 17 May 1795 escorting a valuable convoy. In 1797 she gained a new commander, Antonio de Escaño
Antonio de Escaño
Antonio de Escaño y García de Cáceres was a Spanish army and navy officer. From 1808 to 1810 he was Spain's Minister for the Navy....
, and was sent out as part of a squadron under general José de Córdova to escort another convoy. After completing that mission, shortly before reaching Cadiz the squadron was surprised by a sudden storm and made for Saint Vincent
Saint Vincent (island)
Saint Vincent is a volcanic island in the Caribbean. It is the largest island of the chain called Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It is located in the Caribbean Sea, between Saint Lucia and Grenada. It is composed of partially submerged volcanic mountains...
, meeting a British squadron on 14 February 1797 in the Battle of Cape St Vincent, with Príncipe de Asturias having 10 killed and 19 wounded.
At she flew the flag of general Federico Gravina, who died a year later from wounds he gained during the battle, with Rafael Hore as his flag captain. The ship suffered 50 killed and 110 wounded and after the battle she had to be towed by the French frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
Thémis
French frigate Thémis (1801)
The Thémis was a 40-gun Coquille class frigate of the French Navy.She took part in the Battle of Cape Finisterre and in the Battle of Trafalgar. After the battle of Trafalgar, she took Principe de Asturias in tow to safety in Cadiz....
and then undergo major repairs in Cadiz. She then fought in the Peninsular War
Peninsular War
The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French and Spanish armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807. Then, in 1808, France turned on its...
, capturing the French ships Heros, Neptune, Algesiras, Vainqueur, Plutón and the frigate Cornelie. In September 1810 she and the Santa Ana crossed the Atlantic to Havana to avoid capture by the French. She struck a rock in 1814 and was scrapped in 1817.