HMS Boyne (1790)

HMS "Boyne" was a 98-gun second-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 27 June 1790 at Woolwich. She was the flagship of Vice Admiral John Jervis in 1794. She caught fire and was destroyed in 1795 [Lavery, "The Ship of the Line", p183.] at Spithead.

Laying at anchor, it is supposed that the ship caught fire unknowingly as the Royal Marines of the vessel were practicing firing exercises. Ironically, because the guns were always left loaded, the cannons began to 'cook off,' thereby firing shots at potential rescuers making their way to the ship, resulting in the deaths of two seamen and the injury of another aboard HMS "Queen Charlotte", anchored nearby. Later in the day, the hulk broke its moorings and began to float freely, and exploded soon after. Eleven sailors were killed as a result of this disaster.

Notes

References

*Lavery, Brian (2003) "The Ship of the Line - Volume 1: The development of the battlefleet 1650-1850." Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-252-8.