Britannia (1783 whaler)

"Departure of the whaler Britannia from Sydney Cove, 1798", Thomas Whitcombe; National Library of Australia
History
United Kingdom
Name:	Britannia
Owner:	Samuel Enderby & Sons
Launched:	1783, Bridport, England
Fate:	Wrecked off the New South Wales Coast, 1806
General characteristics
Class and type:	Whaler
Tons burthen:	301, or 520 (bm)
Sail plan:	Full rigged
Notes:	During the period 1790-1800, or so, six or seven vessels named Britannia engaged in whaling in the South Seas, or visited Australia. Separating them out is a non-trivial task as records appear to conflate them.

Britannia was a 301 burthen ton full rigged whaler built in 1783 in Bridport, England, and owned by the whaling firm Samuel Enderby & Sons. She also performed two voyages transporting convicts to Port Jackson. She was wrecked off the New South Wales Coast in 1806.

Under the command of Thomas Melville (or Melvill), Britannia was one of 11 ships that departed from the United Kingdom in early 1791 as part of the Third Fleet, bound for the Sydney penal settlement. Britannia departed Portsmouth, England, on 27 March 1791 and arrived in Sydney Cove on 14 October 1791. She embarked 150 prisoners, of whom 21 died during the course of the voyage.

She afterwards went whaling in the South Seas, leaving on 24 October. She returned to Port Jackson on 10 November. On her first day out she was in company with William and Mary. They killed seven whales, but were only able to retrieve two. Britannia's share of the takings amounted to 12 barrels of oil.Britannia went out again, but returned in December, not having been able to catch anything.

Britannia left on 7 January 1792, intending to cruise for three months, and then either sail back to Port Jackson, of for England, depending on her fortunes. She arrived home on 9 August 1793 with 118 tuns sperm oil plus 1900 seal skins. In 1793 Tysack (or Tyzack) Hullock became her master, and in 1795 James Wilkie replaced him.

Britannia, under command of Robert Turnbull, departed England in early 1798 and arrived in Port Jackson on 18 July 1798. She embarked 96 female convicts two of whom died during the voyage. On 7 October 1798 she left Port Jackson, ostensibly for England.