HMS Lichfield was a 50-gun fourth rate ship of the line constructed for the Royal Navy, launched on 26 June 1746. Built at King's Yard in Harwich by shipwright John Barnard, she was designed according to the dimensions specified in the 1741 proposals of the 1719 Establishment. As a replacement for an earlier vessel bearing the same name, she incorporated some of the timbers from her predecessor, reflecting construction practices of the period. The vessel's primary role was as a warship of the line, and she participated notably in the Seven Years' War. In June 1756, under Captain Matthew Barton, HMS Lichfield captured the French ship of the line Arc-en-Ciel off Louisbourg, Nova Scotia, marking a significant naval engagement during the conflict. HMS Lichfield's service culminated in her final voyage in November 1758, when she was assigned to a squadron commanded by Commodore Augustus Keppel. Her mission was to transport troops to West Africa with the objective of capturing the French-held island of Gorée. The fleet, consisting of four larger ships of the line and six smaller vessels, departed from Cork Harbour, Ireland, on 11 November 1758, with HMS Lichfield leading the convoy. Tragically, on the night of 16 November, approximately 350 miles from the African coast, HMS Lichfield ran aground on the Barbary Coast. Despite efforts to assess their position, her sailing master’s estimate proved inaccurate, and the ship struck the rocks at dawn. The damage was severe, and she broke apart during the day. About 220 of her crew, out of 350, managed to reach the shore; however, they were subsequently captured and held as slaves for 18 months until they were ransomed in April 1760. HMS Lichfield's history reflects her role as a line-of-battle ship of the 18th century, involved in significant naval warfare and ultimately ending her service in a tragic wreck on the Barbary Coast.

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