HMS President
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Several ships of the British Royal Navy have been named HMS President, after the office of president meaning one who presides over an assembly. In the case of the original British ship, the name particularly applied to the Lord President of the Privy Council.
- HMS President was a 26-gun ship purchased in 1646, known as Old President after 1650, and sold 1656.
- HMS President was a 445 ton, 42-gun fourth-rate ship launched in 1650, renamed Bonaventure in 1660, rebuilt 1666, and broken up 1711.
- HMS President was a 38-gun fifth-rate, originally the French Le Presidente, captured in 1806, renamed Piemontaise in 1815 and broken up the same year.
- HMS President was a 44-gun fifth-rate, originally the American frigate USS President, captured in 1815 and broken up 1818.
- HMS President was a 52-gun fourth-rate launched in 1829, used as a drillship of the Royal Naval Reserve after 1862 and sold in 1903.
- HMS President was an Osprey-class screw sloop, launched in 1878, originally named HMS Gannet, renamed HMS President in 1903.
- HMS President was a Nymphe class screw sloop, launched in 1887, originally named HMS Buzzard, renamed HMS President in 1911.
- HMS President was an Anchusa class corvette, launched in 1918, originally named HMS Saxifrage, renamed HMS President in 1921.
Today, the London Division of the Royal Naval Reserve is based at HMS President, a shore establishment near Tower Bridge overlooking the entrance to St Katharine Docks. It is home to over 370 officers and ratings, and is one of the largest Royal Naval Reserve units in the country.
