French ship Magnifique (1749)
| History | |
|---|---|
.svg){kind=small} France | |
| Name | Magnifique |
| Builder | Toulon |
| Laid down | 1750 |
| Fate | 1782, Grounded on sandbar off Lovells Island, Boston, MA, USA |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Magnifique class ship of the line |
| Displacement | 1500 tonnes |
| Length | 53.6 m (176 ft) |
| Beam | 14 m (46 ft) |
| Draught | 6.6 m (22 ft) |
| Propulsion | Sail |
| Complement | 678 men |
| Armament | 74 guns |
| Armour | Timber |
The Magnifique was the lead ship of the 3-ship Magnifique class 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.
On 15 August 1782, the Magnifique crashed along the rocky shore of Lovells Island, in Boston Harbor, MA, USA. She was rumoured to have been carrying "long-lost treasure."[1] According to a US National Park Service Guide, the submerged vessel is still visible from N 42° 19.902’ W 070° 55.818’ during periods of calm.[2]
On 3 September 1782 the Continental Congress decided to present the ship of the line America to King Louis XVI of France to replace Magnifique. The gift was to symbolize the new nation's appreciation for France's service to and sacrifices in behalf of the cause of the American patriots.[3]
Sources and references
- ^ Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area Island Facts: Lovells Island, nps.gov
- ^ Boston Harbor Islands Island Cache Program, Site 6: The Outer Islands, nps.gov
- ^ "America". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
42°19′54″N 70°55′49″W / 42.33167°N 70.93028°W
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