French ship Ça Ira (1781)

Ça Ira was a French 74-gun ship of the line, famous for its ill-fated career in the French Revolutionary Wars. Ordered in 1781 and launched in 1782, it was designed by Jacques-Noël Sané, a prominent naval architect of the era.

The ship's name, Ça Ira (meaning "It will be fine" or "It will work out"), was taken from a popular revolutionary song expressing optimism about the French Revolution. Ironically, the ship's service was characterized by misfortune and defeat.

Ça Ira played a significant role in the Battle of Genoa in March 1795. During the battle, it was badly damaged when it collided with the Victoire, another French ship. In its crippled state, it was subsequently engaged by the British ship HMS Agamemnon, commanded by Captain Horatio Nelson. After a fierce fight, Ça Ira was further disabled.

The following day, it was engaged again by the British ships HMS Captain and HMS Excellent, and after a prolonged and bloody battle, it was captured. The losses sustained by the French crew were extremely high, with estimates ranging from hundreds killed and wounded.

Taken into British service as HMS Ça Ira, it was used for a short time before being deemed beyond economical repair. The ship was eventually destroyed by fire in Livorno, Italy, in 1796. Ça Ira's capture was a significant victory for the British Royal Navy and contributed to their growing dominance in the Mediterranean. The ship remains a symbol of the tumultuous period of the French Revolution and the intense naval warfare that accompanied it.