HMS Buckingham was a 70-gun third-rate ship of the line constructed at Deptford Dockyard by shipbuilder John Holland, launched in May 1751. Built to the draught specified by the 1745 Establishment, she was among the largest ships in the Royal Navy at the time, with a crew capacity of approximately 520 men. The initial cost of construction was around £29,000, with an additional £8,000 spent on fitting out at Chatham Dockyard to meet naval specifications, including the addition of her armament. During her active service, HMS Buckingham played a significant role in the Seven Years' War. She was commissioned in 1755 under Captain Michael Everitt and was deployed to the Mediterranean as part of Admiral John Byng's fleet. She participated in the Battle of Minorca on 20 May 1756, a notable engagement during the war. Following repairs at Chatham, command was transferred to Captain Edward Pratten, and she was dispatched to the Leeward Islands. Throughout 1756 and 1757, her commanding officers changed, with Temple West serving as her Flag Officer during 1756/57. A notable engagement occurred on 3 November 1758, when HMS Buckingham, under Richard Tyrell, engaged three French warships off Montserrat. The battle against the 74-gun Florissant and two frigates lasted four hours, resulting in significant damage to both sides, although Florissant managed to escape after the fight. In 1759, she participated in the Battle of Martinique and the subsequent capture of Guadeloupe. In 1771, the ship was converted into a storeship at Chatham Dockyard, and in 1777, she was renamed HMS Grampus under Captain Ambrose Reddall. Her armament was reduced to 30 guns, and her crew was diminished to about 230 men. During the American Revolution, she transported General John Burgoyne and his officers back to England in 1778. Her subsequent service included resupply missions and timber collection from Newfoundland. Tragically, HMS Grampus foundered on 11 November 1779 during a voyage across the North Atlantic, resulting in the loss of Commander Thomas Stanhope Bennett and the crew.

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