Biography
HMS Victory is the most iconic ship in English naval history. We tell the story of when and how she came to be built, and look at the career she had before her defining moment at Trafalgar
HMS Victory: the Basics
HMS Victory may fairly claim to be the most famous ship in England. She played a decisive leading role in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 under the command of Admiral Horatio Nelson, and now occupies pride of place among the visitor attractions of Portsmouth.
The Life of the Victory
In December 1758, the Admiralty Board placed an order for a dozen new battleships, the principal one of which was to be equipped to carry 100 cannon. Following some debate the following year, it was decided to name this flagship the Victory (the previous Victory had rather defied its name by going down with all hands in 1744).
