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In the Second Anglo-Dutch War she fought at the Battle of Lowestoft (13 June 1665), the Four Days' Battle (11 June to 14 June 1666), and the St. James's Day Battle (4 August 1666). During the Raid on the Medway, she was sunk off to prevent her from being captured. In the Third Anglo-Dutch War, she fought at the battles of Solebay (7 June 1672), when she was captured by the Dutch but recaptured the same day, and Schooneveld (8 June 1673). In the War of the Grand Alliance she fought at the Battle of Barfleur (29 May 1692). In 1702 she was rebuilt at Portsmouth, relaunching as a 90-gun second rate. During the War of the Spanish Succession she was the flagship of Admiral George Rooke. In 1706 she was renamed 'Ramillies' in honour of the victory of John Churchill in the Battle of Ramillies. On 30 November 1742 she was ordered to be taken to pieces and rebuilt for a second and final time at Portsmouth Dockyard as a 90-gun second rate to the 1741 proposals of the 1719 Establishment, relaunching on 8 February. In the Seven Years' War she was the flagship of Admiral John Byng when he failed to relieve Port Mahon and so lost the island of Minorca, a lack of resolution that led to his controversial court-martial and execution. Ramillies was wrecked at Bolt Head near Plymouth on 15 February 1760. Of her crew of around 850 men, all were lost except for twenty seamen and one midshipman. The sinking of the vessel became the subject of a popular contemporary folk song, The Loss of the Ramillies, a version of which has recently been recorded by English folk band Brass Monkey. |
