The Royal Navy's First Invincible

Built at Rochefort, France, and launched in 1744, l'Invincible was a completely new design of Seventy-Four gun warship. She was captured by the British Navy at the first battle of Cape Finisterre in 1747, and had a remarkable career in the Royal Navy. This finally ended when she ran aground in the Solent. After two days of strenuous effort to save her, her port side sank deep into the sandy bed. Her starboard side, dashed by wind and tide, now lies in pieces to the north of the main wreck.

Rediscovered in 1979, this historic wreck is now a site of major historical and archaeological importance, and has provided us with a large number of fascinating artefacts which tell a great deal about life on board ship in the 18th century.

This book is the defnitive story of the Invincible, opening with the exciting, dramatic discovery of the wreck and piecing together a mass of fascinating evidence. It reveals the rich historical background of war, spying operations, booty, English and French shipbuilding, the Seven Years War, the Louisbourg Campaign, the loss of the ship, an unsatisfactory court martial ... and what life was really like on board with regard to living conditions, food, clothes, the spirit ration, service conditions, duties, and discipline. The book also brings the story completely up to date with the most recent discoveries of artefacts, the exhibitions, and the future plans for the develpment of the project.

Vividly written and illustrated, the book combines historical background, human interest, political intrigue and scandal with superbly documented maritiime history. Included are large old-out pages, many photographs and drawings, and several color illustrations (119 pages plus 20 unnumbered pages of photographs and fold-outs).