Lot Essay
H.M.S. Mars, a 74 gun Third Rate, was built at Deptford and launched on 25 October 1794. Although ordered and laid down whilst England was at peace, the long war with Revolutionary France had already begun by the time she was completed and was thus an extremely valuable addition to the fleet as soon as she was commissioned for sea. Initially assigned to the formidable Channel Fleet, she was still serving in Home Waters when, on 12 April 1798, she sailed from St. Helens as part of Lord Bridport's squadron bound for Brest. On 21 April, whilst patrolling in company with H.M.S. Ramillies, 74, and two frigates, Mars sighted two enemy vessels closely followed by a third French warship to which they gave chase. The bigger Frenchman proved to be the 74-gun Hercule, and, after three hours, Mars brought her to action in what was to prove a classic engagement between two perfectly matched adversaries. With Ramillies trailing behind due to a lost foretopmast and the frigate Jason too far off to participate the two opposing 74's became entangled thanks to fouled anchor cables and opened fire at 10.30pm. After a merciless pounding lasting two hours, Hercule could stand it no longer and struck her colours shortly after midnight. Damage to both hulls was extensive, the ships' starboard sides being burnt cinder black, whilst losses were high on each vessel including Mars' commander Captain Alexander Hood. A nephew of both Lords Bridport and Hood, he was mortally wounded about twenty minutes into the action and died just as Hercule surrendered. Hercule herself was coaxed back into Plymouth, repaired at a cost of #12,500, such was the damage inflicted by Mars' thunderous broadsides, and eventually absorbed into the Royal Navy under her own name.