HMS Lenox (1678)

Battle between the Spanish 70-gun Princess (right foreground), and HMS Lenox, Orford and Kent, 8 April 1740
History
England
Name	HMS Lenox
Ordered	April 1677
Builder	Deptford Dockyard
Laid down	25 June 1677
Launched	18 April 1678
Decommissioned	9 May 1678
Honours and awards	Barfleur 1692 Gibraltar 1704 Velez Malaga 1704 Passero 1718
Fate	Sunk as a breakwater at Sheerness April 1756
General characteristics as built
Class and type	70-gun third rate ship of the line
Tons burthen	101274⁄94 tons (bm)
Length	151 ft 6 in (46.18 m) gundeck 120 ft 0 in (36.58 m) keel for tonnage
Beam	39 ft 8 in (12.09 m)
Draught	18 ft 0 in (5.49 m)
Depth of hold	17 ft 0 in (5.18 m)
Propulsion	Sails
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Armament	1677 Establishment 72/60 guns 26 × demi-cannons (54 cwt – 9.5 ft (LD) 26 × 12-pdr guns 32 cwt – 9 ft (UD) 10 × sakers 16 cwt – 7 ft (QD) 4 × sakers 16 cwt – 7 ft (Fc) 5 × 5 3-pdr guns 5 cwt – 5 ft (RH)
General characteristics after 1701 rebuild
Class and type	70-gun third rate ship of the line
Tons burthen	1,08911⁄94 tons (bm)
Length	152 ft 7.5 in (46.52 m) gundeck 126 ft 1.5 in (38.44 m) keel for tonnage
Beam	40 ft 3.5 in (12.28 m)
Depth of hold	17 ft 1 in (5.21 m)
Propulsion	Sails
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Armament	1703 Establishment 70/62 guns 24/22 × 24 pdr guns (LD) 26/24 × demi-culverins (UD) 12/10 × 6-pdr guns (QD) 4/2 × 6-pdr guns (Fc) 4 × 3-pdr guns (RH)
General characteristics 1719 Establishment Group
Class and type	1719 Establishment 70-gun third rate ship of the line
Tons burthen	1,12829⁄94 tons (bm)
Length	151 ft (46.02 m) gundeck 123 ft (37.49 m)
Beam	41 ft 6 in (12.65 m)
Depth of hold	17 ft 4 in (5.28 m)
Propulsion	Sails
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Complement	440 personnel
Armament	70 guns 1719 Establishment 24 × 24-pdr guns (LD) 26 × 12-pdr guns (UD) 14 × 6-pdr guns (QD) 4 × 6-pdr guns (Fc)
Notes	By 1746 guns reduced to 64 by removing six 6-pounder guns

HMS Lenox was a 70-gun third rate built at Deptford Dockyard in 1677/78. She was in active commission for the War of English Succession fighting in the Battles of Beachy Head and Barfleur. She was rebuilt in 1699. Again in active commission for the War of Spanish Succession fighting in the Capture of Gibraltar and the Battle of Velez Malaga. She followed this with the Battle off Passero. She was rebuilt again in 1721. She was active in the War with Spain, capturing the Princesa then serving in Home Waters, the Mediterranean and finally the West Indies. She was in action off Havana in 1745. She returned home and was placed in Ordinary. She was finally sunk as a breakwater at Sheerness in 1756.

She was named in honour of Charles II illegitimate son, Charles Lennox, his son with Louise de Keroualle (Duchess of Portsmouth). Charles Lennox was made the Duke of Lennox in 1675 . This was the first vessel to bear the name Lenox (also spelt Lennox) in the English and Royal Navy.^[1]

HMS Lenox/Lennox was awarded the Battle Honour Barfleur 1692,^[2] Gibraltar 1704,^[3] Velez-Malaga 1704,^[4] and Passero 1718.^[5]