
A marquetry writing slope, HMS Captain 15x10x6ins.(38x25x15cm)
Sold for £625 inc. premium
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A marquetry writing slope, HMS Captain
Footnotes
A memento of a notorious disaster.
During the Crimean War, Cowper Coles, an engineer, developed a revolving turret for ships, which met with some success. Commissioned by the Admiralty to work with the Constructors to design an ocean-going version, he produced designs to a single and double turret ship, which the Admiralty finally decided not to build. Stung by this rejection, Coles lobbied Parliament and was finally allowed to commission his design from a private builder. HMS Captain was build by Laird's at Birkenhead and was launched in 1869. Undergoing her sea trials with the Channel Fleet, on September 6th 1870 she was caught in a severe gale off Cape Finisterre and capsized with the loss of 480 men, including Cowper Coles. The subsequent enquiry determined that the design, with low freeboard and three square rigged masts, was inherently unstable.