In one of the most sensational and perplexing incidents in naval history, Rear Admiral Richard Kempenfelt, a much-voyaged veteran and outstanding officer, drowned along with more than 800 crew and many civilian visitors on a calm summer's morning and in a familiar anchorage. This new work examines that tragedy�the sudden capsizing at Spithead on 29 August 1782 of the mighty flagship HMS Royal George. This is the first comprehensive account of the calamity and is based on a wide variety of contemporary sources, including reports by survivors and eyewitnesses. Catastrophe at Spithead will bring to a new audience an extraordinary tale from the heyday of Britain's naval power.