French ship Héros (1752)

The Héros was a 74-gun ship of the line in the French Royal Navy, launched in 1752. She was built according to the 1741 standards devised by Blaise Ollivier, the elder.

Héros saw action in the Seven Years' War. Notably, she participated in the Battle of Lagos in 1759. During that engagement, she was heavily damaged and forced to strike her colors, surrendering to the British fleet under Admiral Boscawen.

Following her capture, the Héros was taken into the Royal Navy and renamed HMS Hero. She continued to serve in the British fleet for a number of years. However, her French construction and earlier battle damage ultimately contributed to her being deemed less seaworthy than contemporary British-built vessels.

Ultimately, HMS Hero was broken up and scrapped. Details about the specific date and location of her dismantling are somewhat inconsistent in historical records, but it is generally believed to have occurred sometime in the late 1760s or early 1770s. Her brief period of British service, despite her significant French naval history, is a testament to the frequent captures and repurposing of warships during the era of sail.