HMS Unicorn ( 1634 ) HMS " Unicorn " was a 46 - gun second - rank ship of the line of the English Royal Navy , launched at Woolwich in 1634 . History . On 14 April 1634 , shortly after the " Unicorn " was launched , her first captain , Sir John Penington , was knighted on her deck by King Charles I . Besides his naval command , Penington held several other official posts during his career , including Treasurer of His Majesty ’ s Navy , Gentleman of His Majesty ’ s Privy Chamber in Ordinary , and Captain of Sandown Castle . On 8 May 1634 aboard the " Unicorn " in The Downs , Sir John in a letter to the Admiralty ( State Papers , Charles I , May 1 – 15 , 1634 ) wrote that the Unicorn was " tender sided " and " walty " and in her current state " could hold no sail " and as such , was not serviceable . He further states that this opinion was also held by all of his officers , as well as the builder Mr . Boate , who was also aboard . In defence of the builder , he says in all other respects the " Unicorn " handles " as well as any other ship he has put his foot in " and she " only wants two or three more foot of breadth " . He goes on to state , that " the builder says that it is not his fault , for the dimensions were given to him , and he made her 20 inches broader than he had order . " In the Admiralty ' s reply , dated 14 May , to his letter of the 8th , Sir John was instructed to bring the " Unicorn " into Gillingham , transfer all of his men and supplies into the " Charles " , which was promised to be ready by the 24th . As Sir John had recommended , the " Unicorn " would be " furred " ( made broader ) so that she would be serviceable as a Man - of - War . In 1636 , former privateer Sir Henry Mainwaring was placed in command of the " Unicorn " . The ship ' s initial armament comprised 16 demi - cannon , 11 demi - culverin , 26 culverin , and 10 saker s . When she underwent a refit in 1677 , her armament was upgraded to 22 demi - cannon on the lower gun deck , 22 demi - culverin on the middle gun deck , 14 sakers on the upper gun deck , and 6 sakers on the quarterdeck . Originally comprising 250 men in 1636 , " Unicorn " s crew increased to 300 in 1653 , and 410 in 1666 . In 1639 , " Unicorn " , under the command of Captain David Murray , was used to patrol the English Channel . Penington , now an admiral , later resumed command and used " Unicorn " as his flagship until he was replaced by Thomas Trenchfield in 1642 . During the Anglo - Dutch War , " Unicorn " , commanded by Peter Andrews , escorted English convoys and also saw action against the Turks . Her armament was upgraded and her crew increased from 250 to 260 . Captain Haddock . From 1648 until 1652 , the captain of the " Unicorn " was the grandfather , and namesake , of Admiral Richard Haddock . During the English Civil War , the elder Haddock served first the king , then Parliament . He was presented with a gold medal for his involvement in the Anglo - Dutch War and was promoted to Vice - Admiral . It is likely his son William , and grandson Richard , served alongside him as it was common practise to enlist young boys as midshipmen or " apprentice officers . " The " Unicorn " was immortalised in Herge ' s Adventures of Tintin comic books as the ship of Captain Haddock ' s ancestor Sir Francis Haddock , an English naval officer in the service of Charles II of England . The fictional " Unicorn " was captured by pirates and blown up by her captain , presumably taking her treasure to the bottom of the sea . In 2011 , the story was adapted into an animated film directed by Steven Spielberg . Battle honors . Unicorn ' s battle honors included Porto Farina 1655 , Santa Cruz 1657 , Lowestoft 1665 , Four Days ' Battle 1666 , Orfordness 1666 , Sole Bay 1672 , Schooneveld 1673 and Texel 1673 . By 1660 , her armament had been increased to 56 guns . " Unicorn " was sold out of the navy in 1688 .