"A fire has broken out on His Majestys Ship DEFIANCE, a third rate, and is burning beyond hope of recovery."(1)

Accidentally burnt 1688.(2)

Lying in Ordinance at Chatham, at five o'clock in the afternoon, a fire was discovered in the steerage which spread rapidly and largely destroyed the ship. The gunner, Robert Waymouth was the senior officer in her, living on board with his wife and daughter. He had allowed unguarded candles to be used below decks which were believed to have been the source of the blaze, "trusting a girl to carry fire into his cabin" (Pepys). The Gunner was subsequently ordered to be rowed from Upnor Castle to the Charles and then stand for 3 hours on the Upper Deck "with halter around his kneck and his fault writ upon his breast". The remains o the ship were ordered 02-MAR-1672 to be used as a hulk.(3)

Armament: 66 guns
Built: Deptford
Year Built: 1666
Date of Loss: Reporting date of loss

Additional source:
Pepys

<1> Calendar of State Papers Domestic, 1668-69 06-DEC-1668, Page Nos. 91 (Bibliographic reference). SKE6354.

<2> Anderson RC, 1966, Lists of men-of-war 1650-1700, part 1 : English ships 1649-1702 (Archive). SKE56187.

<3> British Warship losses in the Age of Sail 1650-1859 (Monograph). SKE6713.