HMS Dunkirk (1754)

HMS Dunkirk was a 60-gun fourth rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built at Woolwich Dockyard to the draught specified by the 1745 Establishment as amended in 1750, and launched on 22 July 1754.

Career
HMS Dunkirk was sent to America in 1755, along with several other ships, under Vice-Admiral Edward Boscawen. On 5 June she spotted four French ships which were bound for Canada under the command of Admiral Bois de la Mothe. Dunkirk, HMS Defiance (1744) and several other ships gave chase. Dunkirk came alongside the 64-gun Alcide and requested the captain meet with the Vice-Admiral, who was then about three miles away. After the captain of the Alcide refused, the Dunkirk opened fire. Soon afterwards, HMS Edgar (1758) came alongside the French at which Alcide struck her colours. The Alcide had been carrying 900 troops and the governor of Louisbourg. The general of those troops was killed and 30,000 pounds sterling captured. In the battle, another French vessel, the Lys was captured by HMS Fougueux (1747).

Dunkirk was placed on harbour service in 1778 under captain John Milligan, who had previously served as second lieutenant aboard HMS Eagle (1745) During Milligan's captaincy and despite her harbor service status, she is among the vessels credited with a capture on 23 December 1781. According to the London Gazette. she was in company with HMS Squirrel (1755), HMS Antigua (1779), and HMS Cambridge (1755) at the capture of the Dutch ship De Vrow Esther. Milligan left the ship in 1782.

Dunkirk was sold out of the navy in 1792.