Newcastle (50)
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Origin and History
The ship was built by Peirson Lock at Portsmouth dockyard from 1746 to 1750 and launched on December 4 1750.
During the Seven Years' War, the ship was under the command of:
- since December 1755: captain John Lloyd
- from 1757: captain Thomas Howard Hutchinson
- from 1757: captain George Legge (dismissed the service in June 1758)
- from April 1758: captain James Colville
- from 1759: captain Colin Michie (killed in action at the battle of Pondicherry on September 10 1759)
- from September 10 1759: captain Digby Dent
- until January 1 1761: captain Richard Collins
The ship foundered in a cyclone on January 1 1761.
Service during the War
In March 1756, the ship was part of admiral Hawke's fleet. She then spent the summer with admiral Boscawen's squadron. Then in November, she served with admiral Knowles' squadron.
In June 1757, the ship was part of the squadron under the command of commodore Stevens which left England for India.
On March 24 1758, Stevens' squadron reached Madras (actual Chennai) and joined with vice-admiral Pocock's squadron in the Hooghly river. It then took an active part to the operations on the coast of Coromandel. On April 29, she was among Pocock's ships who took part to the combat of Cuddalore. At the beginning of the engagement, her captain mistook the signal for the line and did not close up to the ships ahead of him. He then held back his ship, in spite of signals from the vice-admiral. After the combat, Pocock's squadron was forced to return to Madras to refit. At the end of May, the squadron made an unsuccessful attempt to relieve Fort St. David who finally surrendered on June 2. A few days later (June 6), Pocock was informed that Fort St. George near Madras was likely to be invested and he immediately made for Madras. There, Pocock brought her defaulting captain to court-martial. Captain George Legge of the Newcastle, was dismissed the service. On July 25, Pocock's squadron sailed from Madras, intending to engage the French squadron of d'Aché near Pondicherry. On August 3, the ship took part to the victorious combat of Negapatam where, at the beginning of the engagement, she was almost cut off from the British line.
On September 10 1759, the ship took part in the battle of Pondicherry where it was damaged. Her captain, Colin Michie, was killed in action. After the battle, on September 11, she was towed by the Sunderland (60).
To do: more details on the campaigns from 1760 to 1761
Characteristics
| Guns | 50
| ||||||||
| Crew | 350 | ||||||||
| Length at gundeck | 150 ft (45.7 m) | ||||||||
| Width | 42 ft 8 in (13.0 m) | ||||||||
| Depth | 18 ft 6 in (5.6 m) | ||||||||
| Displacement | 1,052 long tons (1,068.9 t) |
References
Blasco, Manuel, British 4th Rates, 3 Decks Wiki
Phillips, M., Michael Phillip's Ships of the Old Navy
- HMS Newcastle (1750)
N.B.: the section Service during the War is derived from our articles depicting the various campaigns, battles and sieges.
