HMS San Nicolas (1797)

History
Spain
Name:	San Nicolás
Captured:	By the British at the Battle of Cape St Vincent on 14 February 1797
United Kingdom
Name:	HMS San Nicolas
Acquired:	14 February 1797
Reclassified:	Prison ship in 1800
Fate:	Sold on 3 November 1814
General characteristics
Class and type:	80-gun third rate ship of the line
Tons burthen:	1942 tons
Length:	180 ft (55 m)
Beam:	49 ft 6 in (15.09 m)
Propulsion:	Sails
Sail plan:	Full rigged ship
Armament:	80 guns

The San Nicolás was an 80-gun third rate ship of the Spanish Navy.

She was present at the Battle of Cape St Vincent on 14 February 1797, when she was boarded by a number of British sailors from HMS Captain led by Horatio Nelson. They successfully took the ship, then crossed from her decks to board the San Josef, which had come to the aid of the San Nicolás, but had become encumbered with her. Nelson and his men then captured the San Josef as well.

The San Nicolás was commissioned into the Royal Navy as HMS San Nicolas. She became a prison ship in 1800, and was sold for breaking up on 3 November 1814.

References

• Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8. OCLC 67375475.