The ”Scilly naval disaster of 1707” was the loss of four warships of a Royal Navy fleet off the Isles of Scilly in severe weather on 22 October 1707.
HMS Association, a 90-gun second-rate ship of the line struck the Outer Gilstone Rock and sank, drowning her entire crew of about 800 men.
HMS Eagle, a 70-gun third-rate ship of the line hit the Crim Rocks and was lost with all hands on Tearing Ledge amongst the Western Rocks.
HMS Romney, a 50-gun fourth-rate ship of the line hit Bishop Rock and went down with all.
HMS Firebrand, a fireship struck the Outer Gilstone Rock like Association, but unlike the flagship she was lifted off by a wave, but she foundered in Smith Sound, sinking close to Menglow Rock and losing 28 of her crew of 40.
1,550 sailors aboard the wrecked vessels lost their lives, making the incident one of the worst maritime disasters in the history of the British Isles. The main cause of the disaster was the navigators’ inability to accurately calculate their positions.
Source: Wikipedia
