HMS Essex was a 70-gun third rate built by Sir Henry Johnson of Blackwall in 1678/79.

During the War of Spanish Succession she fought at Vigo Bay, the Capture of Gibraltar and Velez Malaga.

[1] HMS Essex was awarded the Battle Honours Barfleur 1692,[2] Vigo 1702,[3] Gibraltar 1704,[4] and Velez-Malaga 1704,[5] Passero 1718,[6] and Quiberon Bay 1759.

[7] She was ordered on 20 February 1678 to be built under contract by Sir Henry Johnson of Blackwall on the River Thames.

[10][9] She was commissioned on 14 August 1679 under the command of Captain John Perryman for delivery to Chatham.

[12][13] HMS Essex was commissioned in 1702 under the command of Captain John Hubbard for service with Sir George Rooke's Fleet.

Admiral Fairborne's Squadron was detached to reconnoiter Corunna for French ships on the 22nd of July.

Finding nothing they rejoined Sir George Rooke's Fleet at sea on 8 August.

[14] On 21 September it was learned that a French Fleet and Spanish treasure ships were in the vicinity of Vigo Bay.

[15] In 1703 she was assigned Captain Hubbard once more sailing with Admiral Sir Cloudisley Shovell.

[12] In 1706 she was under the command of Captain Henry Lumley operating with Sir John Leake's Fleet in the Mediterranean.

[12] She underwent a great repair at Chatham Dockyard costing £12,727[Note 1] during October 1711 and January 1714.

[12] She was ordered on 20 May 1736 to be rebuilt at Woolwich Dockyard under the guidance of Master Shipwright John Hayward.

[Note 2][20][21] She was commissioned in February 1741 under the command of Captain Nathaniel Robson for service with Sir John Norris's Fleet.

[20] She was recommissioned in March 1755 under Captain Robert Harland for service with Admiral Sir Edward Hawke's Fleet.

In April 1756, after the outbreak of the Seven Years War, she was sent to reinforce Admiral Hawke's Fleet.

During the attack on St Malo in June Commodore Howe shifted his flag to the Success.

[25] For the operation at Cherbourg on 7/8 August, Commodore Howe shifted his Flag to the Pallas.

[20] Essex had been attempting to chase the French Flagship Soleil Royal but both vessels went ashore and were wrecked.