HMS Lizard (1697)
1695 Maidstone Group sixth-rate frigate

HMS Lizard was a member of the standardized 20-gun sixth rates built at the end of the 17th century. She was commissioned for service in the East Indies, then Mediterranean, followed by Home Waters in the Irish Sea. She was sold in 1714.
Lizard was the fifth ship to bear this name since it was used for a 120 builder's measure ship listed from 1512 to 1522.
Construction
She was ordered in the Fourth Batch of four ships from Sheerness Dockyard to be built under the guidance of their Master Shipwright, Robert Shortiss. She was launched on 29 March 1697.
Commissioned service
She was commissioned on 29 March 1697 under the command of Captain William Johnson, RN for service in the Channel. She was assigned to the East Indies in 1698. On the death of Captain Johnson on the 31st of August, Captain Edward Rumsey, RN took over on i September 1699. On 8 July 1700 Captain George Martin, RN took command.
This brief starts where responsible research should: with the source description of “HMS Lizard (1697)” as 1695 Maidstone Group sixth-rate frigate. Everything that follows is an evidence route, not borrowed authority.
Why this record matters
The subject matters to the general reference register because the source frames it as 1695 Maidstone Group sixth-rate frigate. Its deeper value depends on whether names, dates, institutions and citations support that framing.
The citation trail is more important than the brevity of the summary: it shows where individual claims can be examined in context. The source revision retrieved here is dated Sep 13, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q111940429. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 1714, 1512, 1522 and 1697.
Overview language is designed for orientation and should not be treated as a substitute for the evidence cited beneath it. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Use the entry as an orientation point, then follow its citations and revision history. Names, dates and institutional relationships should be checked against the original record.
- Subject orientation
- Search vocabulary
- Locating named sources
The closest primary source, responsible institution and strongest cited specialist reference.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “HMS Lizard (1697)”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow HMS Lizard (1697) primary sources, HMS Lizard (1697) archive and Lizard research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “HMS Lizard (1697)”?
- What terminology or title could unlock a more precise catalogue search?
- Which cited source is closest to the event, object or claim?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “HMS Lizard (1697)” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.