HMS Charles was a 96-gun first-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built by Christopher Pett at Deptford Dockyard until his death in March 1668, then completed by Jonas Shish after being launched in the same month.

[1] Charles was renamed HMS St George in 1687 and reclassified as a second rate in 1691.

[2] In 1707, she belonged to Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell's fleet.

Under the command of Captain James Lord Dursley,[4] she saw action during the unsuccessful Battle of Toulon and was present during the great naval disaster off the Isles of Scilly when Shovell and four of his ships (Association, Firebrand, Romney and Eagle) were lost, claiming the lives of nearly 2,000[5] sailors.

On 4 September 1733, St George was ordered to be rebuilt to the 1733 proposals of the 1719 Establishment.