This definitive work is a major step forward in the study of the sailing warship. For the first time, the development of the line-of-battle ship is described precisely, in terms of individual ships and classes, highlighting the factors influencing specific changes in design. This sophisticated approach allows the author to tackle a great many myths-such as the static nature of eighteenth century design, or the pre-eminence of French naval architecture-and his conclusions challenge the accepted view in many areas of naval history. For the enthusiast and academic historian alike, The Ship of the Line is essential reading for a better understanding of the navy in the age of sail.Volume 1 covers the general historical background, and includes extensive tables listing all ships of fifty guns and above, divided by period, rate, class and design, with full technical data. The definitive work on the subject, a major step forward in the understanding of the sailing warship in the Royal NavyLarge-scale profiles clearly show the changes occurring in ship design over two hundred yearso Extensive tables listing all ships of fifty guns and above serving with the Royal Navy between 1650 and 1850, including captured vesselsOver 50 line drawings, plus 130 black-and-white illustrationsBrian Lavery is a leading authority on the sailing fighting ship, and is the author of a series of critically acclaimed works, each of which was a major step forward in the understanding of the subject. These include The Arming and Fitting of English Ships of War, Nelson's Navy and Building the Wooden Walls. He is currently Curator of Ship Technology at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich