Lot 34 , A George III brass mounted oak ships wheel from HMS Medusa, named 1775, wrecked 1798 Diam. 5ft 6in.

A George III brass mounted oak ship's wheel from HMS Medusa, named 1775, wrecked 1798 the central boss stamped 635, housed on a later brass bound oak pedestal and with glass insert to form a table top, Diam. 5ft 6in.
Estimate £1,000-1,500


Medusa 635
Nominal Guns 50 BWAS-1714

Nationality Great Britain
Operator The Royal Navy
Ordered 1775/08/01 BWAS-1714

Keel Laid Down 1776/03 BWAS-1714
Named 1775/10/20 BWAS-1714
Launched 1785/07/23 BWAS-1714
First Commissioned 1790/08
How acquired Purpose built BWAS-1714
Shipyard Plymouth Dockyard BWAS-1714
Ship Class Experiment Class
Designed by John Williams BWAS-1714
Constructor Thomas Pollard BWAS-1714
Category Fourth Rate BWAS-1714
Ship Type Ship
Wrecked 1798/11/26 BWAS-1714

Dimensions
Dimension Measurement Type Metric Equivalent BWAS-1714

Length of Gundeck 140' 9 1/2" Imperial Feet 42.6847
Length of Keel 115' 11 1/2" Imperial Feet 35.0647
Breadth 38' 7 3/4" Imperial Feet 11.6015
Depth in Hold 16' 7" Imperial Feet 4.9064
Draught Forward 10' 6" Imperial Feet 3.2004
Draught Aft 14' 5" Imperial Feet 4.299
Burthen 920 16?94 Imperial Feet 0.0043
Armament
1790/08 Broadside Weight = 302 Imperial Pound ( 136.957 kg) BWAS-1714

Lower Gun Deck 20 British 12-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck 22 British 12-Pounder
Quarterdeck 6 British 6-Pounder
Forecastle 2 British 32-Pound Carronade
Crew Complement
Date # of Men Notes Source
1790/08 300 Establishment BWAS-1714

Commanders
From To Rank Name Source
1790/08 1793/01 Captain John Nicholson Inglefield
BWAS-1714

1793/01 1795/12 Captain James Norman
BWAS-1714
1796/03 1797/07 Commander John Eaton
BWAS-1714
1797/07 1798/11/26 Commander Alexander Becher
BWAS-1714

Petty Officers
From To Rank Name Source
1811/05/02 1814/05/21 Midshipman George Atkinson
NBD1849
Crewmen
From To Rank Name Source
1810/06/03 1811/05/02 1st Class Volunteer George Atkinson
NBD1849
Service History
Date Event Source
1785/07/23 building at Plymouth Dockyard at a cost of £26417.0.0d
BWAS-1714
1790/08 Began fitting at Plymouth Dockyard
BWAS-1714
1790/09/15 Completed fitting at Plymouth Dockyard at a cost of £3296.0.0d
BWAS-1714
1790/09/22 Sailed for the African coast BWAS-1714
1793/01 Commissioned BWAS-1714
1793/02 Fitted as a receiving ship at Chatam. At a cost of £3,446 BWAS-1714
1793/02 Re-classed as a Unrated Receiving Ship
1793/02 fitting at Chatham Dockyard at a cost of £3446.0.0d
BWAS-1714
1793/04 At Cork BWAS-1714
1793/12 Re-classed as a 38 gun Fifth Rate Frigate
1795/02/15 Sailed for Jamaica BWAS-1714
1795/12 Returned from Jamaica with a convoy and paid off BWAS-1714
1796 Possibly a troopship BWAS-1714
1796/02 Began fitting at Plymouth Dockyard
BWAS-1714
1796/03 Commissioned as a hospital ship BWAS-1714
1796/03 Re-classed as a Unrated Hospital Ship
1797/01 Completed fitting at Plymouth Dockyard at a cost of £8961.0.0d
BWAS-1714
1797/07 Commissioned as a troopship BWAS-1714
1797/07 Re-classed as a Unrated Troop Ship
1798/10 Sailed for the Mediterranean BWAS-1714
1798/11/26 Wrecked off Rosia Bay near Gibraltar BWAS-1714

Sources
ID Description Author Type
BWAS-1714 British Warships in the Age of Sail 1714 - 1792 Rif Winfield Book
NBD1849 A Naval Biographical Dictionary 1849
O'Brien Digital Book



Descriptions provided in both printed and on-line catalogue formats do not include condition reports. The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections or the effects of aging. Interested bidders are strongly encouraged to request a condition report on any lots upon which they intend to bid, prior to placing a bid. All transactions are governed by Gorringes Conditions of Sale.

Sold for £1,900