Lot Essay
Designed by Thomas Slade, the Fifth Rate H.M.S. Southampton was the name ship of the 32-gun 'Southampton Class' frigates of the Royal Navy. Built by Robert Inwood at Rotherhithe and launched in 1757, she was present at the battle of Cape St. Vincent (1797). Serving for more than half a century, she was wrecked on 27th November 1812, on a reef of rocks off Conception Island in the Bahamas.