Canada-class ship of the line

The Canada-class ships of the line were a series of four 74-gun third rates designed for the Royal Navy by William Bateley. The name ship of the class was launched in 1765.

Design
During this period in British naval architecture, the 74-gun third rates were divided into two distinct groupings: the 'large' and 'common' classes. The Canada-class ships belonged to the latter grouping, carrying 18-pounder guns on their upper gun decks, as opposed to the 24-pounders of the large class.

Service
HMS Captain (1787), made famous for Nelson's actions at the Battle of Cape St Vincent, belonged to this class of ships.

Ships

 * HMS Canada (1765)
 * Builder: Woolwich Dockyard
 * Ordered: 1 December 1759
 * Launched: 17 September 1765
 * Fate: Broken up, 1834


 * HMS Majestic (1785)
 * Builder: Adams & Barnard, Deptford
 * Ordered: 23 August 1781
 * Launched: 11 December 1785
 * Fate: Broken up, 1816


 * HMS Orion (1787)
 * Builder: Barnard, Deptford
 * Ordered: 2 October 1782
 * Launched: 1 June 1787
 * Fate: Broken up, 1814


 * HMS Captain (1787)
 * Builder: Batson, Limehouse
 * Ordered: 14 November 1782
 * Launched: 26 January 1787
 * Fate: Burned and broken up, 1813