Britannia (1783 ship)
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom
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| Name: | Britannia |
| Owner: | John St Barbe & Co. |
| Builder: | Sunderland |
| Launched: | 1783 |
| Fate: | No longer listed 1845 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage: | 296, 320 from 1800, or 315 (bm) |
| Propulsion: | Sails |
| Sail plan: | Brig |
| Complement: | 27 |
| Armament: |
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Britannia was a ship launched at Sunderland in 1783. In 1791 she received a three-year license from the British East India Company to engage in whaling in the South Pacific and off New South Wales. She does not appear to have engaged in whaling but instead shuttled between Port Jackson and other ports bringing supplies to the new colonies. Shortly after her return to Britain in 1797 she temporarily disappeared from Lloyd's Register. From 1800 to 1822 she was a Greenland whaler, and then from 1822 to 1837 she was a Southern Whale fishery whaler. Between 1840 and 1844 she was a London-based collier. After a 61-year career, she was no longer listed in 1845.
Britannia, under the command of William Raven, left Britain on 15 February 1792, bound for the New South Wales fishery. She arrived at Port Jackson on 25 July 1792 from England, with stores. She sailed on 30 September but returned to Sydney Cove on 3 October to fit for a voyage to the Cape of Good Hope. The officers of the New South Wales Corps had hired her for £2000 to sail there and purchase cattle and stores not available in Australia. Eleven shareholders subscribed £200 each to purchase the cattle and stores. Artificers went on board to create pens for the cattle. She also shipped hay to feed the stock. She then sailed on 7 October.
On the way, she left a sealing gang at Dusky Sound (on the southwest corner of New Zealand). She arrived back at Sydney with cattle from the Cape on 20 June 1793.
Raven was issued a letter of marque on 1 June 1793, clearly in absentia.
Britannia left in September 1793 for Bengal to bring back supplies for Lieutenant-Governor Francis Grose. On the way Raven retrieved the sealing gang at Dusky Sound, and then stopped at Norfolk Island. There Governor Philip Gidley King engaged Britannia to carry himself and two Maoris to New Zealand.
Britannia finally left for Bengal. On his way Raven passed the Loyalty Islands and became the first European on record to sight Maré Island. He also mapped the location of Lifou, Tiga and Ouvéa. He also provided a firm sighting for Ngatik in the Federated States of Micronesia.
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Wikipedia