HMS Duchess was a 90-gun second-rate ship of the line of the English Royal Navy. Launched in 1679, she served in various naval engagements during the late 17th and early 18th centuries, including the Nine Years' War and the War of the Spanish Succession. Duchess participated in several significant battles, such as the Battle of Beachy Head in 1690 and the Battle of Vigo Bay in 1702. She was also involved in escort duties and convoy protection missions. The ship underwent multiple refits and repairs throughout her service life, with alterations to her armament and structure. In 1712, Duchess was converted into a hospital ship and served in this capacity until she was broken up in 1726. The vessel had a long and distinguished career in the Royal Navy, showcasing the importance of large second-rate ships of the line during the age of sail. The history of HMS Duchess reflects the evolution of naval warfare tactics and technology during the late 17th and early 18th centuries, as well as the changing roles of naval vessels in different periods of conflict.

This description has been generated using GPT-3.5-TURBO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.