Order of Malta. Ships-2. "San Giovanni", 1798.
Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2026 4:23 pm
The final third-rate ship built for the Order was the San Giovanni. Designed by the Last Morin and designed to carry 64 guns, she was launched in early 1798. Grand Master Hompesch attended the launching ceremony, along with all the other magnates of the Order. The San Giovanni was expected to be the most elegant vessel ever built in Malta. When Napoleon occupied the island, he left instructions for the San Giovanni to be completed and commissioned before departing for his Egyptian expedition. The ship was launched four months later, and the French commissioned her under the name Athénien. She was assigned to the naval medical services, and in this role, she conducted research into the diseases plaguing the French fleet in the Mediterranean. The British acquired the Athénien in connection with the capture of Malta. Although the capitulation did not take place until September, Athenian was among the British ships in Malta that shared the prize money for the capture of Courageux on 29 March 1800. The Royal Navy took Athenian into British service as HMS Athenienne.
The ship participated in battles in the Mediterranean. In June 1804, after repairs in Portsmouth, the Athenienne, as an escort for nine East India Company ships, headed to China. In 1805, the ship returned to England. After the Battle of Trafalgar, the Athenienne headed for Malta.
On October 20, the Athenienne ran aground in the Strait of Sicily. The crew cut away the ship's masts to prevent it from capsizing, but it nevertheless flooded the lower deck ports for half an hour before capsizing. 141 men and two women were rescued by a Danish ship. The remaining 347 people, including Captain Rainsford, perished.
The 2scudi stamp depicts the ship of the line "San Giovanni" (Vascello San Giovanni). The 3.59 e stamp depicts a model of a Maltese ship of the line similar to the San Giovanni, without yards, in the Malta Maritime Museum.
Sovereign Order of Malta (SVMO) 1990; 2 scudi.
Malta 2017; 3,59e.
Sources: https://maltaguide.pro/pluginAppObj/plu ... -fleet.pdf. And other sites.
The ship participated in battles in the Mediterranean. In June 1804, after repairs in Portsmouth, the Athenienne, as an escort for nine East India Company ships, headed to China. In 1805, the ship returned to England. After the Battle of Trafalgar, the Athenienne headed for Malta.
On October 20, the Athenienne ran aground in the Strait of Sicily. The crew cut away the ship's masts to prevent it from capsizing, but it nevertheless flooded the lower deck ports for half an hour before capsizing. 141 men and two women were rescued by a Danish ship. The remaining 347 people, including Captain Rainsford, perished.
The 2scudi stamp depicts the ship of the line "San Giovanni" (Vascello San Giovanni). The 3.59 e stamp depicts a model of a Maltese ship of the line similar to the San Giovanni, without yards, in the Malta Maritime Museum.
Sovereign Order of Malta (SVMO) 1990; 2 scudi.
Malta 2017; 3,59e.
Sources: https://maltaguide.pro/pluginAppObj/plu ... -fleet.pdf. And other sites.