HMS Rodney was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 8 December 1809 at Deptford.

[1] The Dockyard was suffering from a shortage of seasoned timber at the time Rodney was being built.

In consequence the hull was built from unseasoned wood which quickly shrunk and rotted when exposed to seawater.

After just three years at sea all of the hull fastenings had given way and Rodney was returned to Deptford for decommissioning.

[1] In commercial service, Rodney collided with the British paddle steamer Thames at Havana, Cuba, on 11 October 1846, destroying her pinnace, and was driven ashore.