HMS Bedford (1775)

HMS Bedford was a 74-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched in 1775. She was built at Woolwich Dockyard to the 1773 Establishment.

Bedford saw extensive service during the American Revolutionary War. She participated in the Battle of Cape Henry in 1781, a crucial engagement in the Virginia Capes campaign that directly preceded the Siege of Yorktown. Later that same year, Bedford fought in the Battle of the Chesapeake.

Following the American Revolutionary War, Bedford remained in service and was active during the French Revolutionary Wars. She participated in the Glorious First of June in 1794, a major naval battle against the French fleet.

In 1801, Bedford was renamed Captain. She continued to serve in various roles until she was eventually broken up in 1817. Bedford represents a typical third-rate ship of the line, the workhorse of the Royal Navy during this period, and her service history exemplifies the major naval conflicts of the late 18th and early 19th centuries.