Editing HMS Defence (1763) (section)

==Career==
During the [[American War of Independence]], ''Defence'' served with the [[Channel Fleet]], seeing action at the [[Battle of Cape St. Vincent (1780)|Battle of Cape St. Vincent]] in 1780. She was sent out to [[India]] in early 1782 as part of a squadron of five ships under Commodore [[Sir Richard Bickerton, 1st Baronet|Sir Richard Bickerton]], arriving too late for the battles of that year. But in 1783 she took part in the last battle of the war, at [[Battle of Cuddalore (1783)|Cuddalore]]. She returned to England at the end of 1785. She was then laid up during the years of peace until the outbreak of the [[French Revolutionary Wars]].
[[File:Ushant, 1794 RCIN 735027.c.jpg|thumb|Situation of the ''Defence'' at the close of the action on 1 June 1794, by [[Robert Dodd (artist)|Robert Dodd]] after Lieut. A. Becher RN.]]
Recommissioned into the Channel Fleet under Captain [[James Gambier, 1st Baron Gambier|James Gambier]], she fought at the [[Glorious First of June]] in 1794, distinguishing herself in action against {{ship|French ship|Mucius||2}} and {{ship|French ship|Tourville|1788|2}}, and becoming one of only two British ships to be completely dismasted in the battle. After repairs, she was sent to the Mediterranean, joining Admiral [[William Hotham, 1st Baron Hotham|William Hotham]] in time to take part in the [[Battle of Hyères Islands|Battle of Hyeres]] in July.

''Defence'' was at [[Plymouth]] on 20 January 1795 and so shared in the proceeds of the detention of the Dutch naval vessels, [[East Indiamen]], and other merchant vessels that were in port on the outbreak of war between Britain and the Netherlands.<ref>{{London Gazette|date=15 September 1801|issue=15407|page=1145}}</ref>

In 1798 she returned to the Mediterranean under Captain [[John Peyton (Royal Navy officer)|John Peyton]], taking part in the [[Battle of the Nile]] in August.

On 1 July 1800, ''Defence'', {{HMS|Fisgard|1797|2}}, {{HMS|Renown|1798|2}} and the {{ship|hired armed cutter|Lord Nelson||6}} were in Bourneuf Bay when they sent in their boats to attack a French convoy at [[Île de Noirmoutier]].{{sfnp|Debritt|1801|loc=Appendix:History of the war page 37}} The British destroyed the French ship ''Therese'' (of 20 guns), a lugger (12 guns), two schooners (6 guns each) and a cutter (6 guns), of unknown names. The cutting out party also burned some 15 merchant vessels loaded with corn and supplies for the French fleet at [[Brest, France|Brest]]. However, in this enterprise, 92 officers and men out of the entire party of 192 men, fell prisoners to the French when their boats became stranded. ''Lord Nelson'' had contributed no men to the attacking force and so had no casualties.{{sfnp|Debritt|1801|loc=Appendix:History of the war page 37}}{{efn|She did share in the head money with an able seaman receiving 3[[shilling|s]] {{frac|11|3|4}}[[pence|d]], and her commander receiving [[£sd|£]]6 8s {{frac|7|1|2}}d, in 1825.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=18160|page=1337|date=30 July 1825}}</ref>}}

In 1801, ''Defence'' sailed to the Baltic under Captain [[Lord Henry Paulet]] with Admiral [[Hyde Parker (admiral)|Hyde Parker's]] fleet. She was present at the [[Battle of Copenhagen (1801)|Battle of Copenhagen]], but did not see action as she was part of the reserve under Parker.

On 11 February, 1805 she made contact with [[USS Constitution]] off Portugal 36.44 North.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://ibiblio.org/anrs/docs/E/E3/nd_barbarywars_v05p02.pdf |title=Naval Documents related to the United States Wars with the Barbary Powers Volume V Part 2 of 3 September 7 1804 through April 1805 |pages=343 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |via=Ibiblio |access-date=10 May 2025}}</ref> 

In 1805 she saw action again at the [[Battle of Trafalgar]], where under Captain [[George Johnstone Hope]], she captured the {{ship|Spanish ship|San Ildefonso||2}} and fought the {{HMS|Berwick|1775|2}}, suffering 36 casualties.

''Defence'' was one of the British ships in support of the 1809 [[Walcheren Campaign]] which was intended to capture [[Vlissingen]] (Flushing) and [[Antwerp]] in the Netherlands.