HMS Falmouth (1693)

HMS Falmouth was a 50-gun fourth rate ship of the line built for Royal Navy in the 1690s. The ship participated in several battles during the Nine Years' War of 1688–97 and the War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1715), including the action of August 1702. She was captured by the French in 1704.

Description
Falmouth had a length at the gundeck of 124 ft and 101 ft at the keel. She had a beam of 33 ft, and a depth of hold of 13 ft. The ship's tonnage was 610 $63⁄94$ tons burthen. Records of Falmouth's original armament have not survived, but one of her sister ships was armed with 21 culverins, 18 eight-pounder cannon and 10 minions while another had 22 twelve-pounder guns, 22 six-pounder guns and 6 minions in 1696. In 1703, her armament consisted of 22 twelve-pounder guns on the lower gundeck and 22 six-pounder guns on the upper deck. On the quarterdeck were 8 six-pounder guns with another pair on the forecastle. The ship had a crew of 160–230 officers and ratings.

Construction and career
Falmouth was the second ship in the Royal Navy to be named after the eponymous port. The ship was ordered on 1 January 1693 and contracted out to Edward Snelgrove in Limehouse. She was launched on 25 June 1693 and commissioned that same year.

The ship took part in the action of August 1702 and on the fourth and fifth days of the battle supported Admiral John Benbow's attacks when other members of the squadron failed to do so. On 4 August 1704 she was attacked by two French privateers. There was a vigorous exchange of fire during which Falmouth's captain, Thomas Kenney, was killed. Falmouth was then surrendered to the French.