The HMS Foudroyant was an 80-gun ship of the line originally built for the French Navy at Toulon, launched on 18 December 1750. Designed by François Coulomb, she was a formidable vessel, participating in notable conflicts during her service. During the Battle of Minorca in 1756, she engaged the British flagship HMS Ramillies. Later, as part of a squadron under Jean-François de La Clue-Sabran, she was captured off Cartagena, Spain, on 28 February 1758 during the Battle of Cartagena by British ships Monmouth, Hampton Court, and Swiftsure. The engagement resulted in 190 casualties on the Foudroyant, and her French captain, the Marquis de Quesne, handed his sword to Lt Robert Carkett, symbolizing surrender. After her capture, she was towed to Gibraltar for repairs and brought into Portsmouth in September 1758, where her crew was imprisoned. The Admiralty purchased her in December 1758 for £16,759.19.11d, and she was renamed HMS Foudroyant. She underwent refits at Portsmouth to prepare for service, including a significant overhaul from February to August 1759. Commissioned in June 1759 under Captain Richard Tyrell, Foudroyant served as the flagship of Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Hardy and participated in fleet operations, including the Battle of Minorca and expeditions to the Leeward Islands. She was refitted multiple times and served in various theaters, including off Martinique and during operations related to the American Revolutionary War. Her notable achievements include capturing the French 74-gun Pégase on 21 April 1782, actions that earned Jervis—her captain—knighthood. She also captured several transports and was present at the relief of Gibraltar. In 1787, she was decommissioned and sold for breaking up, marking the end of her distinguished service. The HMS Foudroyant remains a significant vessel for her active combat record and her role in naval history.

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