The design of the stamp is most probably made after the painting, VICTORY towed into Gibraltar, painted by the painter Clarkson Stanfield (1793-1867). The painting was made in 1853, long after the Battle of Trafalgar took place, and shows HMS NEPTUNE towing VICTORY into Gibraltar.
The painting is at Somerleyton Hall near Lowestoft.
The VICTORY is on many stamps, but the NEPTUNE only on a stamp of Gibraltar issued in 1980 40p and commemorating the 175th anniversary of Nelson’s death. The VICTORY heavily battered and almost dismasted (as seen on the Gibraltar stamp) after Trafalgar and the two-day storm that followed.
According to Log Book is she also seen on the Anguilla stamp issued 1981 $3 sg 452.
The HMS NEPTUNE was one of the Dreadnought Class designed by Sir John Henslow.
09 December 1790 ordered, and built on the Chatham Dry-dock for the Royal Navy.
April 1791 her keel was laid down.
28 Jan. 1797 launched under the name HMS NEPTUNE.
Tonnage 2.110 ton (bm), dim. 152.6 x 51.0 x 21.0ft.
Armament: On the lower deck 28 – 32pdr., tween deck 30 – 18pdr., upper deck 30 – 12pdr., quarterdeck 8 – 6pdr., fo’c’sle 2 – 6pdr.
Complement 850, building cost £77.053.
From May 1779 she was under command of Capt E.H. Stanhope. July 1797 she was flagship after Commodore Sir Erasmus Gower hoisted his broad pennant on board the NEPTUNE.
April 1799 she was under command of Capt. J Vashon and based at Plymouth.
1800 She was used as Admiral Gardner flagship and based at Torbay.
1801 Under command of Capt. E Brace, and Vice Admiral James Gambier used her as flagship in the Channel Fleet.
1803 Under command of Capt W.O’Bryen Dury based at Torbay.
1805 Under command of Capt T.F. Fremantle off Cadiz, Spain.
She took part in the Battle of Trafalgar on 05 October 1805, still in command of Fremantle she was the third in line commanded by Lord Nelson following HMS TEMERAIRE (a sistership) and HMS
VICTORY, she did not join the close action until 1.45 p.m. when she passed through the enemy line and discharged her port broadside into the stern of the French BUCENTAURE (80-guns) which was the flagship of the French Admiral Villeneuve.
After sailing on she engaged other enemy ships before Captain Fremantle laid NEPTUNE alongside the Spanish SANTISSIMA TRINIDAD as seen on the stamp. The (then) largest warship in the world carrying 140 guns on four decks. As a three-decker carrying 98 guns herself, NEPTUNE was strong enough to engage such a formidable opponent and maintained close action until the SANTISSIMA TRINIDAD was disabled.
After the close action she sailed on and exchanged fire with other enemy ships until the end of the battle.
Lost in the battle 10 men killed and 34 wounded.
As one of the less damaged ships NEPTUNE assisted other vessels during the storm that followed the battle, first towing the ROYAL SOVEREIGN and took over on 26th October the tow of the VICTORY, which she led into Gibraltar on the 28th October.
After repair she joined again Collingswood squadron off Cadiz.
27 September 1806 together with HMS MINOTAUR she left Collingwood’s fleet off Cadiz to escort a convoy, which came from Messina and Malta of 22 merchant, vessels and light transports back home.
The passengers on board included Capt. John Oakes Hardy, of HMS ZEALOUS who had been dismissed the service for drunkenness, and Lord Viscount Valentia who had been making explorations in India and the Middle East. He had an Abyssinian prince in his suite.
1807 In ordinary at Portsmouth.
Under command of Capt. Sir T. Williams at Spithead in 1808.
01 October 1808 sailed for the West Indies. In the West Indies she was the flagship of Rear-Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane.
28 January 1809 she sailed from Carlisle Bay, Barbados together with the POMPEE, BELLEISE, YORK, CAPTAIN, INTREPID, ACASTA, PENELOPE, ETHALION, AEOLUS, CIRCE, ULYSSES and EURYDICE for an attack on Martinique, and during the same day in the evening she met with HMS CLEOPATRA and the French prize frigate TOPAZE.
The army under Lieutenant General Beckwith landed on Martinique on the 30th and 31st and the island surrendered on 25 February.
Neptune had three men wounded while serving ashore.
In April arrangements were made to capture the Saints and seize the 5 French warships anchored there. The troops were landed on 12 April and in the evening, after being fired on by mortars and howitzers, the enemy put to sea, when at sea she split in two groups the two frigates one way and the three ships-of-the-line a other direction.
NEPTUNE, off the SW passage, made sail and joined POMPEE, which was under command of Capt. Fahie, and found her chasing the three ships.
POMPEE and HMS RECRUIT managed to cripple the stern most vessel and brought her to action, and captured her. She was the D’HAUTPOULT 74 guns, who was two months in her maiden voyage.
Neptune lost one seaman, William Bozier and had six wounded.
1810 In ordinary at Plymouth.
1813 She became a prison ship in that port.
October 1818 broken up at Portsmouth.
Anguila 1981 $3 sg452, scott?
Gibraltar 1980 40p sg440, scott and Gibraltar 2005 £2 sgMS?, scott?
Sources: The Sail & Steam Navy List by Lyon & Winfield. Mostly copied from http://www.cronab.demon.co.uk/NO.htm http://www.treeforall.org.uk/trafalgar/ ... s/Neptune/