French ship Lion (1804)

Scale model of Achille, sister ship of French ship Lion (1804), on display at the Musée national de la Marine in Paris.
History
France
NameLion
BuilderRochefort, Charente-Maritime
Laid down30 June 1802
Launched12 January 1804
FateScuttled and burnt on 26 October 1809
General characteristics
Class & typeTéméraire-class ship of the line
Displacement3,069 tonneaux
Tons burthen1,537 port tonneaux
Length55.87 metres (183.3 ft) (172 pied)
Beam14.90 metres (48 ft 11 in)
Draught7.26 metres (23.8 ft) (22 pied)
PropulsionUp to 2,485 m2 (26,750 sq ft) of sails
Armament
ArmourTimber

Lion was a Téméraire class 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.

She took part in Allemand's expedition of 1805 under Captain Eleonore-Jean-Nicolas Soleil.

On 21 October 1809, she departed Toulon escorting a convoy bound to Barcelona. Six days into the journey, she encountered a British squadron sent by Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood, which gave chase. In the ensuing Battle of Maguelone, Lion ran aground near Sète, and was set on fire by her crew to avoid capture.