Northumberland 1702

by Sir Edward Pellew · 2026-09-20 · Maps

Her Majesty's Ship Northumberland Launched in 1702, Rated for 70 Guns and 460 Men and Boys, she weighed in at 1,096 Tons BM. Armed with 26x24-28x12-16x6, Northumberland has a low slung profile and no guns on her round house, where it was typical to see four 3 or 6 lb guns. Instead having one more pair of 12lb guns on her upper gundeck, and and extra pair of 6lb guns on her quarterdeck, this meant that her center of gravity sat lower in the ship and gave her much better sea keeping ability's, to which a shorter roundhouse or (poop} also contributed. This would've made Northumberland a step closer to the next generation 70 Gun ships. First Commissioned under Captain William Gifford, Northumberland was handed over to Captain James Greenway, he and his brand new third rate were to join a fleet under Sir George Rooke, where she and the fleet would conduct a series of operations against Cadiz, following this Admiral Rooke set his sights on the Spanish treasure fleet at Vigo Bay, Rooke would hand pick ships suitable for the attack in the bay, Northumberland being on of the finest 70s with him was among those selected, Rear Admiral John Greydon, in Northumberland would lead the blue squadr