Lot Essay
H.M.S. Firebrand was a fireship built by Haydon at Limehouse in 1694. Measureed at 268 tons, she was 94¼ feet long with a 25½ foot beam and carried a models armament of 6 minions and 2 falconets. Her crew numbered 45 and at the time of her loss off the Scillies in 1707, she was under the command of Captain Piercey.
The loss of the Firebrand and other ships of the fleet,
22nd October 1707
Although the War with France over the Spanish succession was still at its height, as the summer of 1707 drew to its close, the balk of the British Mediterranean Fleet prepared to return to England for the Winter. Sailing orders were issued on 29th September and thirteen warships, including the Flagship Association, set sail from Gibralter under the command of Rear-Admiral Sir Cloudeseley Shovell, C. in C. Mediterranean. It had been an eventful year and the fleet, in close co-operation with the Duke of Savoy, had taken an active part in the combined attack on Toulon. Even though the final assault had not been a success, many French ships had been destroyed and the town heavily bombarded. Such action had necessitated refitting and the fleet was more than ready for the security of Spithead. On the voyage northwards the squadron encountered exceptionally severe weather with the result that on 22nd October the Admiral ordered the fleet to heave-to and take soundings. A lengthy conference concluded the position to be in the latitude of Ushant, near the coast of France, but in actual fact the appalling weather had driven them one hundred miles west of this point, and only two hours sailing time south of the Scily Isles. In the mistaken belief that the clear Channel lay ahead of them, the flagship herself led the way into the storm. Daylight faded, the weather worsened; the compact line of the ships slowly dispersed until at about 8.20p.m., without warning the Association struck the Outer Ledge of the Gilstone Reef. Despite the fact the Admiral's barge had time to get away there were no survivors, and the ship broke up and sank within minutes. Three other vessels -- Romney, Eagle and Firebrand -- also foundered in the same vicinity and over fifteen hundred men perished alongside Sir Cloudesley Shovell.
Within the last thirty years, all four of these wrecks have been located and carefully explored; numerous artifacts, as well as a significant quantity of coins, have been recovered.
Please refer to lots 17 & 18
The loss of the Firebrand and other ships of the fleet,
22nd October 1707
Although the War with France over the Spanish succession was still at its height, as the summer of 1707 drew to its close, the balk of the British Mediterranean Fleet prepared to return to England for the Winter. Sailing orders were issued on 29th September and thirteen warships, including the Flagship Association, set sail from Gibralter under the command of Rear-Admiral Sir Cloudeseley Shovell, C. in C. Mediterranean. It had been an eventful year and the fleet, in close co-operation with the Duke of Savoy, had taken an active part in the combined attack on Toulon. Even though the final assault had not been a success, many French ships had been destroyed and the town heavily bombarded. Such action had necessitated refitting and the fleet was more than ready for the security of Spithead. On the voyage northwards the squadron encountered exceptionally severe weather with the result that on 22nd October the Admiral ordered the fleet to heave-to and take soundings. A lengthy conference concluded the position to be in the latitude of Ushant, near the coast of France, but in actual fact the appalling weather had driven them one hundred miles west of this point, and only two hours sailing time south of the Scily Isles. In the mistaken belief that the clear Channel lay ahead of them, the flagship herself led the way into the storm. Daylight faded, the weather worsened; the compact line of the ships slowly dispersed until at about 8.20p.m., without warning the Association struck the Outer Ledge of the Gilstone Reef. Despite the fact the Admiral's barge had time to get away there were no survivors, and the ship broke up and sank within minutes. Three other vessels -- Romney, Eagle and Firebrand -- also foundered in the same vicinity and over fifteen hundred men perished alongside Sir Cloudesley Shovell.
Within the last thirty years, all four of these wrecks have been located and carefully explored; numerous artifacts, as well as a significant quantity of coins, have been recovered.
Please refer to lots 17 & 18