The figurehead is of the bust of Vice Admiral John Benbow, the commander-in-chief during the War of Spanish Succession in the West Indies where he subsequently died from his wounds in 1702. He wears a wig and cravat as shown in contemporary portraits. The figure wears armour and the lower part is draped in red cloth.

Vessel history:

The ship, a 3rd rate, 72 gun vessel, was built at John Brent of Rotherhithe’s private yard and was launched from the same location in 1813. HMS ‘Benbow’ took part in the Syria Campaign in 1840 as part of an Anglo-Austrian-Turkish fleet. In 1848 the ship became a marine barrack vessel, then later in 1854 accommodation for Russian war prisoners and finally in 1859 a coal hulk at Sheerness. She was broken up by the Castles of Woolwich in 1895.