Earl Spencer (1795 EIC ship)
| History | |
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| Name: | Earl Spencer |
| Owner: |
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| Builder: | Perry, Blackwall |
| Launched: | 18 July 1795 |
| Notes: | The National Archives splits the eight voyages Earl Spencer made for the East India Company (EIC) under three sets of records. Hackman has only the middle six, which the British Library groups together under "Earl Spencer (2)", but has a number of references to owners, masters, and dates that make it clear that voyages 1-7 below are the same vessel. Hackman also states that after voyage #7, the government chartered Earl Spencer for a voyage transporting convicts to Australia. Her return voyage was her eighth for the EIC. Bateson states that Earl Spencer was launched on the Thames in 1803. However, there is no evidence for this and Bateson may simply have mistaken changes in ownership and repairs around 1803 for a new vessel. |
| General characteristics | |
| Tons burthen: | 644, 644 34⁄94, 672, (bm) |
| Length: |
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| Beam: | 33 ft 2 in (10.1 m) |
| Depth of hold: | 13 ft 8 in (4.2 m) |
| Propulsion: | Sail |
| Complement: |
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| Armament: |
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Earl Spencer was an East Indiaman, launched in 1795 for the British East India Company (EIC). She made seven voyages for the EIC until in 1811-12 the government took her up to transport convicts to Australia in 1813. On her return voyage from Australia she sailed via China, where she carried a cargo back to England for the EIC.
As most of her voyages took place during wartime, Earl Spencer frequently sailed under a letter of marque that authorized her to engage in offensive actions against the French, not just defensive. When the vessel changed masters, a new letter was issued. Also, the outbreak of war after a period of peace also required a new letter.
Captain Thomas Denton left The Downs on 26 September 1795, bound for Bengal. His letter of marque had been issued on 5 September. On 20 Feb 1796 Earl Spencer reached Kedgeree. Homeward bound, she was at Saugor on 3 April, reached False Bay on 12 August and the Cape on 4 September. She arrived at Crookhaven on 27 November and Long Reach on 16 December.
Captain Charles Raitt left Portsmouth on 5 June 1797 for Madras and Bengal. He had a letter of marque issued on 13 March 1797.Earl Spencer reached Simons Bay on 4 September and Madras on 2 December. She arrived at Kedgeree on 26 January 1798. Homeward bound, she was at Saugor on 20 April, Simons Bay on 22 August, the Cape on 30 September, and St Helena on 17 November. She arrived at The Downs on 3 February 1799.
Captain Charles Raitt left Portsmouth on 28 June 1800, bound for Bengal. Earl Spencer arrived at Kedgeree on 8 January 1801. Homeward bound, she was at Saugor on 7 April and St Helena of 4 August. She arrived at the Downs on 1 November.
Charles Raitt was again captain of Earl Spencer on her third voyage. The Napoleonic Wars having broken out after the one year of peace following the Treaty of Amiens, he received a new letter of marque on 8 June 1803. Raitt left Portsmouth on 30 June 1803, bound for Bengal. Earl Spencer reached Rio de Janeiro on 16 September.
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