HMS Kent was a 74-gun Bellona-class ship of the line third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, designed by Sir Thomas Slade and built by Adam Hayes at Deptford Dockyard and launched on 23 March 1762.

Service history

She was launched at a cost of £40,000. In 1774, a chest containing perhaps as much as 400 lb of gunpowder exploded during saluting, killing eleven and injuring 34, and causing the marine drummer sitting on the chest to be blown overboard. The marine reportedly suffered no injuries as a result. In 1775 Kent was briefly under the command of John Jervis. She was sold out of the service at Plymouth in 1784 for £600.

Notable Commanders