Possibly Hercule (captured 1798)

Scale: 1:48. Plan showing the bow, head, head-rails and trail-board and figurehead of Hercules for an unknown Third Rate, although it could relate to Hercule (captured 1798).

The figurehead is a full-length figure of a bearded Hercules with his club raised in his right hand above his head. He is wearing nothing but a lion skin cloak, complete with the lion’s head on Hercules’ head, and a belt around his waist to hold the cloak in. Below his feet in the trail-board is Cerberus, the three-headed dog that guarded Hades, referring to the twelfth task set for him by King Eurystheus of the Tiryns.

Note that the head-rail size, shape and configuration does not match the Hercule (captured 1798), although the figureheads are very similar (see ZAZ0881). Similarly, the head configuration of the later 74-gun third Rate Hercules (1815) does not match the scale drawing. There is no date or letter reference, suggesting it was not submitted. However, it is known that James Dickerson carved a new figurehead for Hercule (captured 1798) while the ship was being altered and fitted out at Plymouth between April and November 1801. The mis-match between the bow shape may reflect the use of a generic 74-gun bow drawing as part of the submission.