Lot 127: H.M.SSandwichlaying her mooring at sunset

H.M.S Sandwich laying her mooring at sunset signed and dated 'J Spurling 1932' (lower right) watercolour and bodycolour 36.3 x 51cm (14 5/16 x 20 1/16in).

36.3x 51cm

Warren Moore, Spurling, Sail and Steam, Patrick Stephens Ltd., (Cambridge, 1980), p.45-52, illustrated, p.47

Built at Chatham by Mr J. Lock and launched on 14 April 1759, Sandwich was registered as a 2nd rate of 1,869 tons originally with 90 guns before a refit in 1779, after which she is recorded as having 98. She measured 176 feet in length with a 49.5 foot beam. Built three years in to the Seven Years War, upon completion she was immediately dispatched to Ushant where she joined the Western Squadron under Captain Sir E. Hawke. She was primarily involved with forming a blockade against the French until 1762, when she was returned to Portsmouth to be paid off and refitted. In 1775, active operations commenced against rebel states of North America and Sandwich was employed to duty under the flag of Admiral Sir J. Douglas. With the recognition of US independence by the French government in 1778, she was then sailed to the channel in preparation for impending war. After a further refit in 1799-80, at the cost of £15,396, Sandwich sailed under Admiral Rodney. Whilst escorting a fleet of supply ships to relieve the Spanish siege of Gibraltar with a fleet of 20 ships of the line they encountered Langara's squadron south of Cape St. Vincent. The ensuing battle lasted from midday to midnight with the British capturing four Spanish ships, including Langara's flagship. Following this, Sandwich sailed on to St. Lucia and remained there until a journey to New York in August 1780, where she stayed until the October when she sailed to Barbados. Returning to Chatham in 1787, she was commissioned as a guardship under Captain Thomas Tonkin until 1791, when she was sent to the Nore as a guard and receiving ship during more hostility with France. It was at this time that Sandwich was involved in the Mutiny of the Nore where on 12 May 1797, her crew seized control of the ship and elected seaman Richard Parker 'President of the Delegates of the Fleet'. When the mutiny failed, Parker was convicted of treason and piracy and hanged from the ship's yardarm. Sandiwch was paid off in September 1797, and re-commissioned again to resume her duty as a guardship, a duty she continued until April 1810, when she was docked and taken to pieces.