HMS Lord Melville (1813)

HMS Lord Melville was a 74-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched in 1813. She was named in honour of Robert Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville, who served as First Lord of the Admiralty.

Lord Melville saw active service during the later stages of the Napoleonic Wars, although her primary role was often as a flagship or part of larger fleet actions. She participated in various patrols and blockades.

In the years following the end of the Napoleonic Wars, Lord Melville continued to serve in the Royal Navy, primarily in the Mediterranean and in home waters. She underwent periods of refitting and maintenance to keep her in a seaworthy condition.

By the mid-19th century, with the advent of steam power and ironclad warships, wooden sailing ships of the line like Lord Melville were becoming obsolete. She was eventually withdrawn from active service and placed in reserve. Her final disposition involved being broken up, though the exact date and location are sometimes variably reported. Specific details of her later career and breaking are less well documented than her earlier active service.