HMS Devonshire

Eight ships of the British Royal Navy have been named '\HMS Devonshire', originally in honor of William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Devonshire, and later after the county of Devonshire.

• The first Devonshire was an 80-gun 3rd rate launched in 1692 and blown up in action with the French, 1707.

• The second Devonshire was also an 80-gun 3rd rate, launched in 1710, hulked 1740, and sold 1760.

• The third Devonshire was a 74-gun 3rd rate in service from 1745 to 1772.

• The fourth Devonshire was a fireship purchased in 1804 and expended 3 October of that year at Boulogne.

• The fifth Devonshire was a 74-gun 3rd rate launched in 1812, in harbour service 1849, and broken up 1869.

• The sixth Devonshire was an armoured cruiser in service from [1904]] to 1921.

• The seventh Devonshire (C39) was a cruiser launched in 1927, converted to a training ship in 1947, and sold 1954.

• The eighth Devonshire (D02) was a guided missile destroyer launched 1960 and sunk as a target in 1984.