# Question regarding William Dampier, pilot of the Duke. Was it a galley? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 21, 2018, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-william-dampier-pilot-of-the-duke-was-it-a-galley/824884 "2018-11-21T11:02:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-william-dampier-pilot-of-the-duke-was-it-a-galley/824884/1 "2018-11-21T11:02:48Z")
Hi I haven’t been able to find any description of the Duke, a ship piloted by William Dampier and captained by Woodes Rogers. Was it a galley/galleon? Were most privateers galleys? What was its tonnage and gunnage? I look forward to your feedback ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-william-dampier-pilot-of-the-duke-was-it-a-galley/824884/2 "2018-11-21T11:29:34Z")
I am no expert but I think it was a frigate. [Here](http://collections.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/11858.html) is a picture of The Capture of the ‘Marquise d’Antin’ and ‘Louis Erasme’ by the English Privateers ‘Duke’ and ‘Prince Frederick’, 10 July 1745 And another [https://c8.alamy.com/comp/AHF4G1/the-privateer-duke-AHF4G1.jpg](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/AHF4G1/the-privateer-duke-AHF4G1.jpg) More information [here](http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pathways/blackhistory/journeys/voyage_html/rogers.htm) ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-william-dampier-pilot-of-the-duke-was-it-a-galley/824884/3 "2018-11-21T12:06:12Z")
> [@davidmich](#): > > Hi > > I haven’t been able to find any description of the Duke, a ship piloted by William Dampier and captained by Woodes Rogers. Was it a galley/galleon? Were most privateers galleys? What was its tonnage and gunnage? > I look forward to your feedback The ships _Duke_ and _Duchess_ are called [frigates](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frigate#Origins) in [Rogers’ Wiki article](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodes_Rogers#Preparation_and_the_early_voyage). And no, most privateers would not have been galleys. And galley and galleon are not synonyms. Here’s maritime artist Montague Dawson’s[depiction of both ships](https://www.art.co.uk/products/p46958400549-sa-i10553137/montague-dawson-duke-and-duchess.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-william-dampier-pilot-of-the-duke-was-it-a-galley/824884/4 "2018-11-21T13:33:23Z")
> [@davidmich](#): > > Was it a galley/galleon? No. A galley is a ship propelled principally by oars; such a ship could not have made a voyage anything like what the _Duke_ did (around the world). Galleon refers to a large Spanish sailing ship (substantially larger than the _Duke_). > [@](#): > > Were most privateers galleys? No. > [@](#): > > What was its tonnage and gunnage? Googling says 350 tons / 36 guns. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-william-dampier-pilot-of-the-duke-was-it-a-galley/824884/5 "2018-11-21T13:49:29Z")
Its [letters of marque](http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pathways/blackhistory/journeys/voyage_html/transcripts/marque_duke.htm) list it as “Frigott of the burthen of ab[out] three hund[re]d Tonns” ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-william-dampier-pilot-of-the-duke-was-it-a-galley/824884/6 "2018-11-21T14:25:23Z")
“about 300 Tons, 30 Guns and 170 men” - a sailing ship (Dampier was sailing master), probably a smallish sixth rate/frigate at 300 tons and 30 guns. (PDF ahead - “The Cruising Voyages of William Dampier, Woodes Rogers and George Shelvocke and their Impact.”) > **[BeattieT.pdf](https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/bitstream/handle/10871/9831/BeattieT.pdf?...2)** > > 3.24 MB ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-william-dampier-pilot-of-the-duke-was-it-a-galley/824884/7 "2018-11-21T14:36:15Z")
Somewhat similar to the [HMS Surprise](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Surprise_(1796)) of the Aubry-Maturin books, probably, if somewhat earlier. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-william-dampier-pilot-of-the-duke-was-it-a-galley/824884/8 "2018-11-21T15:35:09Z")
The Surprise (real and fictional) was about twice the tonnage, and carried 28-38 guns. I suspect the guns on the Duke were probably smaller though - a privateer doesn’t need particularly large guns to capture enemy cargo ships. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-william-dampier-pilot-of-the-duke-was-it-a-galley/824884/9 "2018-11-21T15:48:36Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > The Surprise (real and fictional) was about twice the tonnage, and carried 28-38 guns. I suspect the guns on the Duke were probably smaller though - a privateer doesn’t need particularly large guns to capture enemy cargo ships. Probably somewhere between the Sophie and the Surprise in men, guns and tonnage, I’d guess. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-william-dampier-pilot-of-the-duke-was-it-a-galley/824884/10 "2018-11-21T20:22:23Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > The Surprise (real and fictional) was about twice the tonnage I think you’re confusing displacement tonnage and tons burthen. ---
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2018, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-william-dampier-pilot-of-the-duke-was-it-a-galley/824884/11 "2018-11-22T08:25:45Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > I think you’re confusing displacement tonnage and tons burthen. Thanks MrDibble. Thank you all. Very helpful. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2018, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-william-dampier-pilot-of-the-duke-was-it-a-galley/824884/12 "2018-11-22T11:57:33Z")
Anyone near San Diego can see a replica of HMS Surprise at the Maritime Museum. [HMS Surprise - Maritime Museum of San Diego](https://sdmaritime.org/visit/the-ships/hms-surprise/)