Ceylon (1803 ship)

Ceylon (right), renamed Ceylan, at the Battle of Grand Port
History
Great Britain
Name:	Ceylon
Owner:	Voyages 1-3:John St Barbe Voyage 4: Kennard Smith
Operator:	East India Company
Route:	England-India
Builder:	Pitcher, Northfleet
Laid down:	1802
Launched:	April 1803
Fate:	Captured on 3 July 1810
France
Name:	Ceylan
Acquired:	July 1810 by capture
Captured:	December 1810
Great Britain
Name:	Ceylon
Owner:	Kennard Smith
Operator:	East India Company, then new owners
Route:	England-India
Acquired:	December 1810 by recapture
Fate:	Sold 1815
General characteristics
Type:	East Indiaman
Tons burthen:	818 26⁄94, or 843, or 867
Length:	148 ft 8 1⁄2 in (45.3 m) (overall) 116 ft 0 in (35.4 m) (keel)
Beam:	36 ft 5 in (11.1 m)
Depth of hold:	14 ft 9 in (4.5 m)
Propulsion:	sail
Crew:	1803: 90 1810:110
Armament:	Pierced for 34 guns 1803: 26 × 18-pounder guns 1810: 20 × 18-pounder guns + 6 × 18-pounder carronades 1815: 20 × 18-pounder carronades

Great Britain

Ceylon was an East Indiaman launched in 1803. She performed four voyages for the British East India Company (EIC). On her fourth voyage the French captured her in the Action of 3 July 1810; she then took part in the Battle of Grand Port. The British recaptured her at the invasion of Île de France (now Mauritius). She completed her fourth voyage and her owners then sold her. She became a transport until her owners sold her in 1815 to new foreign owners.

Captain Thomas Hudson left The Downs on 27 April 1803, bound for Bombay, Bengal, and Madras. He sailed under a letter of marque issued on 27 June 1803, i.e., after he had left.

Ceylon reached Bombay on 24 August, Tellicherry on 27 September, and Anjengo on 5 October, before arriving at Diamond Harbour on 18 November. Homeward bound, she was at Saugor on 24 December, Vizagapatam on 27 January 1804, Madras on 21 February, and St Helena on 28 June.