HMS Gift was a notable fourth-rate vessel originally built as the French ship Le Don de Gieu. Launched prior to her capture, she measured approximately 98 feet in length on her keel, with a breadth of 30 feet 8 inches and a depth of hold of 12 feet 6 inches. Her builder’s measure tonnage was about 490+22/94 tons, and she had a draught of 13 feet 6 inches. Armed with 36 guns in 1653, her armament was later increased to 40 guns during wartime, with a peacetime complement of 32, and she carried a crew of around 130 personnel. Captured by Robert Blake’s fleet off Dunkirk on 4 September 1652, she was taken from the French and commissioned into the Commonwealth Navy in 1653 as Gift. She was initially commanded by Captain Thomas Salmon. Her early service included participation in key naval battles of the First Anglo-Dutch War: the Battle of Portland in February 1653, the Battle of the Gabbard in June 1653, and the Battle of Scheveningen near Texel in July 1653. During these engagements, Gift was part of the Blue Squadron, Center Division at Portland, and later the Blue Squadron, Van Division at Scheveningen. After Captain Salmon’s death in battle, command passed to Captain Edward Barnett, and subsequently to Captain Samuel Dickson, Captain Mark Harrison, and others over the years. In 1658, she was renamed Great Gift, sometimes referred to as Gift Major, to distinguish her from a Spanish vessel. Her service extended into the post-war period, including roles in the North Sea fishery under Captain Jeffrey Dare and Captain George Batts. In 1664, she was commanded by Captain Jacob Reynolds and sailed to Guinea in 1665. In 1666, she was converted into a fireship, reducing her crew to about 50 and arming her with four guns. Recommissioned under Captain John Kelsey, she participated in the Battle of St James Day in June 1666 as part of the Blue Squadron. Tragically, Gift was expended as a fireship during the Battle of St James’s Day on 25 July 1666, marking the end of her service. Her career highlights her transition from a captured French warship to an active participant in significant naval battles, underscoring her maritime importance during the mid-17th century conflicts.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.