LICHFIELD HMS 1695

[aukepalmhof]

The stamp is designed after a painting made in 1695 by Willen van der Velde II (1633-1707), which shows the battle between the LICHFIELD and the French privateer Le TIGRE on 11 December 1695.
Lord Archibald Hamilton, the seventh and youngest son of William, 3rd Duke of Hamilton, and his wife Anne, Duchess of Hamilton, became a captain in the Navy on 11 September 1693

By the end of 1694 was he appointed to a new 48-gun vessel the LITCHFIELD that was being built at Portsmouth. In 1695 he was active in the English Channel pursuing French privateers and this picture appears to commemorate a particular action recorded in the ship’s log: “Dec 11 at:8: this morn haveing both her . saw 2: sayle to Leward we gave chace to one ye Anglesy to ye other. by noon came up with our chase & Engag’d with her fo: 2: hours after which she 11th struck topmasts shott away – being a french Privateeer of Snt Malo of: 24: guns Call’d ye Tyger.”
https://www.rafaelvalls.co.uk/artwork/l ... mber-1695/

Built as a Fourth Rate ship-of-the-line at Portsmouth by the shipwright William Stigant for the Royal Navy.
16 November ordered.
04 February 1695 launched as the HMS LICHFIELD.
When built 682 ton (bm), dim. Length 130 ft 3 in (39.7 m) (gundeck). Beam 34 ft 7.5 in (10.6 m). Depth of hold 13 ft 6 in (4.1 m).
Full-rigged ship.
Armament: 50 guns of various weights of shot.
1695 Commissioned under command of Captain Lord Archibald Hamilton.

Stationed in the English Channel, took privateers Le POSTILLON on 28 July 1695, La MARIE de GRACE on 08 August 1695, and on 12 December 1695 the 24 gun privateer from St Malo Le TIGRE.
1697 Under Captain Fleetwood Emes as escort for the Yarmouth fishery; took privateer L’EMPEREUSE in the North Sea on 13 May 1697.
1702 under Captain Lord James Dorsley, sailed for Newfoundland expedition, she took the 36-gun frigate Le MARTIAL on 12 June 1703. In 1704 under Captain Rupert Billingsley, with Whetston squ
1705 Under Captain Thomas Smith, sailed for the Channel and the Bay of Biscay. The squadron took privateer Le SOLEIL on 13 May 1704 in the North
1706 Smyrna convoy.
1707 To St Helena and Cape of Good Hope.
22 March 1707 paid off and laid up at Deptford.
1709 Recommissioned under Captain Joseph Taylor, bound for Newfoundland.
1710 With the main fleet.
1710 took privateers Le COMTE DE VASSY on 30 May 1710, LES DEUX AMIS on 16 April 1711, and LES PASSAGES VOLANT 29 February, in the English Channel 1711.
18 January 1711 took with HMS MEDWAY, LES SORLINGUES ex HMS SORLINGS off Portugal in 1712.
February 1715 paid off.
28 May 1720 broken up at Plymouth to RB (rebuilt?).

Source: Wikipedia. British Warships in the Age of Sail 1714-1792 by Rif Winfield.
St Tome et Principe 2021 Db 140.00 sg?, Scott?