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HMS Vanguard - Nelson's flagship at the Battle of the Nile, 1st August 1798. She was a third-rate battleship with 74 guns and launched at Deptford Royal Dockyard in 1787.
1,644 tons. L168ft, B47ft.
During the Revolutionary War she formed part of Lord Hood's fleet at the occupation of Toulon in August 1793.
In December 1795 Captain Edward Berry was appointed Flag Captain of Vanguard flying Rear Admiral Horation Nelson's Flag. In1798 Nelson was deployed by Earl St Vincent to the Mediterranean with a small fleet composed of HMS Orion, HMS Alexander, HMS Emerald, HMS Terpsichore and HMS Bonne Citoyenne.
Napoleon escaped with his fleet from Toulon whilst Nelson was engaged repairing his ships after a violent storm.
Following a chase to the eastern mediterranean, on 1st August the Battle of the Nile ensued. Nelson shifted his Flag from HMS Vanguard to HMS Foudroyant.
In 1800 Vanguard was taken out of commission in Portsmouth.
In 1801 re-commissioned with Captain Sir Thomas i/c she sailed to join the Baltic Fleet. She was later engaged in West Indies and so missed Trafalgar.
In 1805 she was paid off at Plymouth and repaired.
On re-commissioning in 1806 she became the Flagship of Admiral Sir Thomas Bertie.
She later took part in the second battle of Copenhagen in 1807 and was preserved at Plymouth as a powder store ship.
In 1812 she was a prison ship at Plymouth and in 1814 became a powder hulk.
She was finally broken up in 1821.
Information from Ted Evans, Liverpool.
Gibraltar SG842

The MS issued by Ghana in 2005 for the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, is designed after a painting made by Nicholas Pocock in 1807, which showing five warships in which Nelson served as a captain and flag officer.The stamp is a reverse design of the painting, which shows five ships, the MS gives only four ships, according the inscription on the stamp the HMS AGAMEMNON, VANGUARD, ELEPHANT and CAPTAIN, but that is a mistake, the ship in the foreground on the left side of the stamp is the HMS VICTORY, the AGAMEMNON is not depicted. On the right of the MS in the foreground is show the HMS ELEPHANT, behind her with a broadside view is the VANGUARD, on the right in the foreground the VICTORY and behind her the CAPTAIN.The ships are depicted when drying sails in a calm at Spithead, Portsmouth.
Information supplied by Auke Palmhof.

The 35c Anguilla stamp issued in 1981 sg450 was designed after a painting made in 1807 by Nicholas Pocock, which shows five warships on which Nelson served.
HMS AGAMEMNON on the far left.
HMS VANGUARD a broadside view.
HMS ELEPHANT in front of her, a stern view.
HMS CAPTAIN in the middle distance.
HMS VICTORY in the foreground.