H.M.S. Queen Charlotte, named in honour of George III's wife and consort, was one of the three 'Umpire' class first rates designed by Edward Hunt in 1772 but not begun until well over a decade later. Ordered in December 1782 but not actually laid down at Chatham until September 1785, Queen Charlotte was measured at 2,278 tons and was 190 feet in length with a 52 foot beam. Mounting 100 guns, including a main armament of 30-32pdrs., she was launched on 15th April 1790 and entered service later the same year as flagship to Admiral Lord Howe. As commander of the Channel Fleet when the war with Revolutionary France was declared in 1793, Howe's responsibilities increased hugely and when the Admiralty received news that a valuable grain convoy was approaching France from the United States, Howe was ordered to take immediate action. Thus it was that the fleet put to sea from Portsmouth early in May 1794 for the brief operation which was to end, a month later, in a notable British victory.

Fought on 1st June [1794], the opening battle of the War was also its first fleet action and was the result of Howe's encounter with a French fleet, under Admiral Villaret-Joyeuse, which itself had been sent out to escort the grain convoy safely home. Howe had already spent several fruitless weeks at sea searching for both the convoy and its escort when he finally sighted both on 28th May. A running fight lasting three days ensued, with the French having the advantage of heavy weather. Early on 1st June, with the weather much improved and the two fleets about four miles apart, Lord Howe seized the weather gage and attacked. His strategy was not entirely successful but nevertheless, six French ships-of-the-line were taken as prizes and a seventh, Le Vengeur du Peuple, was sunk after a tremendous duel with H.M.S. Brunswick. The French flagship Montagne was severely damaged, suffering 300 men killed and yet, despite these losses, the convoy of merchantmen escaped Howe's clutches whilst the fleets were engaged and managed to reach the French mainland safely. Throughout the engagement, the Union flag offered in this lot was flown at Queen Charlotte's main masthead, not only to signify Lord Howe's command but also to identify the flagship within the opposing fleets.

A year later, on 23rd June 1795, Queen Charlotte was again in action as Lord Bridport's flagship at the defeat of another French fleet off the Ile de Groix. In 1797 she became flagship to Admiral Lord Keith and he took her to the Mediterranean where, on 17th March 1800, she caught fire about 12 miles off Livorno whilst the Admiral and many of his officers were ashore. The fire was discovered at about 6 o'clock in the morning and, by 10 o'clock, had taken a firm hold on the ship despite heroic efforts by Lieutenant George Dundas and the crew to contain it. Even though a number of ships were nearby, approximately 690 men were lost either to fire or drowning making it one of the Royal Navy's worst disasters during the age of sail.

The bag containing this flag is stencilled with the name 'Lieut. Burgh', and belonged to William Burgh who was made Lieutenant - perhaps for his conduct at the battle where he presumably assisted the flag lieutenant on Queen Charlotte - in July 1794 but who died in 1798 (cause unknown).