History
British East India Company
NamePrince of Wales
OwnerPeter Everitt Mestaer[1]
BuilderPeter Everitt Mestaer, King and Queen Dock, Rotherhithe
Launched8 February 1803[2]
FateLost June 1804
General characteristics
Tons burthen820,[1] 82032⁄94[2] or 857[3] (bm)
Length
  • 146 ft 5 in (44.6 m) (overall)
  • 119 ft 0 in (36.3 m) (keel)
Beam36 ft 0 in (11.0 m)
Depth of hold14 ft 9 in (4.5 m)
PropulsionSail
Complement80[3]
Armament20 × 18-pounder guns[3]

Prince of Wales was an East Indiaman launched in 1803. She was on her first voyage for the British East India Company when she foundered in 1804 on her homeward voyage. Captain John Price left the Downs on 9 May 1803, bound for Bombay and Madras. Because she was sailing in a time of war, Price took out a letter of marque, which he received on 2 July 1803.[3] Prince of Wales left Madras on 15 April 1804.[1]

In June Prince of Wales travelled from St Helena in convoy with the East Indiamen City of London, Ceylon, Calcutta, and Wyndham, two vessels from the South Seas, Lively and Vulture, and Rolla, which had transported convicts to New South Wales.[Note 1] Their escort was HMS Courageaux.[5] On the way the convoy ran into severe weather with the result that Prince of Wales foundered with the loss of all on board. She was last seen on 8 June 1804 in distress.[2] The EIC valued her cargo at £28,860;[6]

Notes

  1. ↑ Lively was a French ship launched in 1787 but captured in 1796. She was now working as a South Seas whaler under the command of Captain Magnus Smith and under ownership of David Bennett.[4]

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 British Library: Prince of Wales (8).
  2. 1 2 3 Hackman (2001), p. 175.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Letter of Marque, 1793–1815, p.93 Archived 9 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine;
  4. ↑ Clayton (2014), pp. 160–1.
  5. ↑ The Times, 12 October 1804.
  6. ↑ Reports from the Select Committee of the House of Commons appointed to enquire into the present state of the affairs of the East India Company, together with the minutes of evidence, an appendix of documents, and a general index, (1830), Vol. 2, p.977.

References

  • Clayton, Jane M (2014). Ships employed in the South Sea Whale Fishery from Britain: 1775–1815: An alphabetical list of ships. Berforts Group. ISBN 9781908616524.
  • Hackman, Rowan (2001). Ships of the East India Company. Gravesend, Kent: World Ship Society. ISBN 0-905617-96-7.
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