The Fougueux (1785-1805): prototype of an 18th–19th century French construction method

Abstract

The 74-gun French ship Fougueux (1785-1805) belonged to the Spanish-French fleet that faced the British in the Battle of Trafalgar on 21 October 1805. This warship was lost off the coast of Sancti Petri after the battle. About two centuries later, an array of iron cannons and wooden remains were studied at this site by the Underwater Archaeology Centre of Andalusia. This paper presents the results of the analysis of the ship’s construction method, whose particularities place it within the tradition of French naval construction between the late 18th century and early 19th century.