HMS Royal James was a 100-gun first-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched in 1675. The vessel was part of the Anglo-Dutch Wars and the War of the Grand Alliance. She participated in several significant naval engagements, including the Battle of Beachy Head in 1690 and the Battle of La Hogue in 1692. During the latter battle, the ship was captured by the French after running aground and being abandoned by her crew. The French later burned the ship to prevent her recapture by the English. The loss of the HMS Royal James was a significant blow to the Royal Navy due to her size and firepower. The ship's sinking led to investigations and recriminations within the English government and military. The loss of the vessel highlighted the importance of naval preparedness and the consequences of inadequate leadership during wartime. The HMS Royal James remains a notable example of the challenges and risks faced by naval forces during this period of maritime 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.