- HMS President
Five ships and one
shore establishment of theRoyal Navy have been named HMS "President", after the office ofpresident meaning one who presides over an assembly. In the case of the original British ship, the name particularly applied to the Lord President of the Privy Council.*HMS "President" was a 26-gun ship purchased in 1646, known as "Old President" after 1650, and sold in 1656.
*HMS "President" was a 42-gunfourth-rate ship launched in 1650, renamed "Bonaventure" in 1660, rebuilt 1666, and broken up 1711.
*HMS "President" was a 38-gunfifth-rate , originally the French "La Presidente", captured in 1806, renamed "Piedmontaise" in 1815 and broken up the same year.
*HMS "President" was a 44-gunfifth-rate , originally the American frigate USS "President", captured in 1815 and broken up June 1818.
*HMS "President" was a 52-gunfourth-rate launched in 1829, used as adrillship of theRoyal Naval Reserve after 1862 and sold in 1903. She was briefly known as "Old President" for part of 1903.
*HMS "President" is the home of the London Division of theRoyal Naval Reserve . It has been a shore establishment nearTower Bridge overlooking the entrance toSt Katharine Docks since 1988. Ships that have been previously renamed HMS "President" whilst serving as the home of the London Division of theRoyal Naval Reserve include:
**HMS "Gannet", an "Osprey"-classscrew sloop , launched in 1878 and renamed HMS "President" in 1903. She was sold in 1911.
**HMS "Buzzard", a "Nymphe"-class screw sloop launched in 1887 and renamed HMS "President" in 1911. She was lent away in 1919 and sold in 1921.
**HMS "Marjoram", an "Anchusa"-class sloop was to have been the next HMS "President", but she was wrecked before she could be refitted.
**HMS "Saxifrage", an "Anchusa"-class sloop launched in 1918 instead became HMS "President" in 1921, serving as such until 1988. She is now permanently berthed in theRiver Thames on the Victoria Embankment.Battle honours
*Portland 1653
*Gabbard 1653
*Scheveningen 1653
*Java 1811
*San Sebastian 1813.
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