HMS Pearl was a 40-gun fifth-rate ship of the Royal Navy, built to the specifications of the 1719 Establishment. Ordered around 1722 from Deptford Dockyard, she was a titular rebuild of an earlier vessel launched in 1708. Laid down in January 1723 under the supervision of Master Shipwright Richard Stacey, she was launched on 17 October 1726 at a cost of approximately £6,376.1.7d. The ship's design and armament classified her as a fifth-rate vessel, suitable for a variety of roles including patrol, escort, and participation in expeditions. Commissioned in 1727 under Captain Sir Hugh Middleton, her early service was marked by rapid changes in command. Middleton was dismissed after a court-martial in October 1727, with Captain Samuel Pitman taking over but dying in October 1728. Subsequently, Captain John Trotter commanded her in the Leeward Islands, with her service involving typical deployment to colonial stations. In 1731, she was under Captain FitzRoy Henry Lee, who sailed to Guinea before returning to Britain in 1732. After a minor repair at Woolwich Dockyard in early 1733, Pearl was recommissioned under Trotter and returned to the Caribbean. She underwent a more extensive repair at Sheerness between 1737 and 1738, after which she resumed service under Captain Edward Legge. With the outbreak of the War of Jenkins' Ear, Pearl departed England in July 1739 with Admiral Vernon’s squadron for Lisbon. In June 1740, she joined Commodore George Anson’s squadron, tasked with raiding Spanish possessions in the Pacific. During this expedition, Pearl faced numerous hardships, including crew deaths from scurvy and disease. Command changed hands several times, with Captain Dandy Kidd dying in January 1741 and being succeeded by Captain George Murray. The vessel lost contact with the main force in April 1741 and ultimately returned to Britain. By July 1742, she was at Barbados before being ordered back home. In 1743, the Admiralty initially ordered her broken up to make way for a new vessel, but this order was later revoked. Instead, HMS Pearl was sold on 28 June 1744 for £266. Throughout her service, Pearl exemplified the versatile role of fifth-rate ships in the Royal Navy during the early 18th century, participating in significant colonial and wartime operations.

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