HMS Queen was a notable second-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 18 September 1769 at Woolwich Dockyard. Designed by William Bateley, she was unique in her class, being the only vessel constructed to her specific draught. Originally armed with 90 guns, her armament was later increased to 98 guns during the 1780s, reflecting her significant firepower. The ship had an active service history, participating in several major naval engagements. She fought at the First Battle of Ushant in 1778 under Admiral Keppel and later at the Second Battle of Ushant in 1781 under Admiral Kempenfelt. Her most prominent combat role was during the Glorious First of June in 1794, where she served as the flagship for Rear-Admiral Alan Gardner under Admiral Howe. During this battle, HMS Queen sustained substantial damage, and her commanding officer, Captain John Hutt, was among the casualties. Throughout her career, HMS Queen was involved in notable naval actions, including the capture of three American merchantmen—Norfolk, Eliza, and Friendship—in November 1798 under the command of Captain Dobson, with the squadron also impressing crew from Baltimore’s ship. She also engaged in encounters with USS Ganges and USS Constellation, highlighting her active role in the conflicts of the period. Following the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, HMS Queen continued to serve in the blockade of Cádiz. She shared in prize money from the detention of the Ragusan ship Nemesis in 1806. However, after Trafalgar, the demand for large three-deckers declined, and in 1811, she was razeed to become a two-decker third-rate ship with 74 guns. After decades of service, HMS Queen was broken up in 1821, ending her 52-year career as a formidable vessel of the Royal Navy.

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