Today's HMS Rose is a replica of a mid-18th Century Royal Navy Frigate which figured in the colonial and revolutionary history of the United States. The replica "HMS" Rose was built by the Smith and Rhuland Shipyard in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, in 1970 for New Port Historian, John Fitzhugh Miller, using original construction drawings from 1757, which were obtained from a National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, England.

The original HMS Rose was built in Hull, England in 1757. At that period in naval history ships were divided by "rates", first rate being the largest with 100-110 guns carried on three individual gun decks. The original Rose was a sixth rate ship, the smallest class of ship that would be commanded by someone holding the rank of Captain. In size, she was about the modern day equivalent of a destroyer.

The original Rose was built to fight in the Seven Year War, known as the French & Indian War. At that time, America was still happily a part of Great Britain and a young George Washington was employed as a soldier in the British Army. She patrolled the Northeast coast of America, "impressing", or conscripting, sailors from American merchant vessels whenever the opportunity arose and seeking out provisions for the British garrison at Boston.

In 1774, the Rose, under the command of James Wallace, was sent to Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island to put an end to the lucrative smuggling which had made Newport the fourth wealthiest city in America.

In July of 1776, the Rose played a large part in the British invasion of New York, shelling the land-based fortification and making forays far up the Hudson. James Wallace was knighted for his actions in helping to drive Washington and his troops from the city. Rose finally met her end in 1779 in Savannah, Georgia. At the time, the British occupied the city and the French, who were now fighting on the side of the Americans, sent a fleet up the Savannah River to attach the British from the river front while Americans, aided by Poles and other allies, continued an assault from the rear.

The British scuttled the Rose in a narrow part of the channel, effectively turning her into an aquatic roadblock. Consequently the French fleet was unable to approach to within range and Savannah remained in British hands until the war's end. After the war, Rose was destroyed to clear the channel. Only a few artifacts, brought up in dredging operations over the years, remain from what was once the British frigate "HMS" Rose.

The replica "HMS" Rose was bought in 1985 by Kay Williams and brought to Bridgeport, Connecticut. Mr. Williams formed the "HMS" Rose Foundation, a private, non-profit group to restore and administer the ship.

In September of 1991 Rose was certified as America's first Class-A size Sailing School Vessel in the United States. She continues her educational mission today. She visits Lunenburg most summers while sailing the East Coast.