Halsewell (East Indiaman)

Wreck of the Halsewell by J. M. W. Turner
History
United Kingdom
Name:	Halsewell
Builder:	Wells
Launched:	1778
Struck:	6 January 1786
Fate:	Wrecked
General characteristics
Class and type:	East Indiaman
Tons burthen:	758
Length:	139.5 feet (42.5 m)
Beam:	36 feet (11 m)
Propulsion:	Sails
Sail plan:	Full-rigged ship
Armament:	Cannons

The Halsewell was an East Indiaman that was wrecked on 6 January 1786 at the start of a voyage from London to Madras. She lost her masts in a violent storm in the English Channel, and was driven onto the rocks below a cliff on the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset, England. The vicar of nearby Worth Matravers recorded the event in his parish register:

On the 4th, 5th and 6th day of January, a remarkable snow storm, sometimes a hurricane, with the wind at south. On the latter day, at two in the morning, the Halsewell East Indiaman, 758-tons burthen, commanded by Captain Richard Pierce, bound for Bengal, was lost in the rocks between Seacombe and Winspit quarries in this parish. Never did happen so complete a wreck. The ship long before day-break was shattered to pieces...

Of over 240 crew and passengers, only 74 survived. The shipwreck shocked the nation. The King visited the scene of the tragedy. The wreck of the Halsewell was the subject of poems, paintings and an orchestral symphony. Many years later Charles Dickens described the wreck in a short story.

The Halsewell was an East-Indiaman of 776 tons, launched in 1778. She had three decks, a length of 139.5 feet (42.5 m) and a breadth of 36 feet (11 m). Throughout her career she was under the command of Captain Richard Pierce.

On her maiden voyage the Halsewell sailed to Madras and China, leaving Portsmouth on 6 March 1779 and after stopping at Madeira, Gorée and the Cape of Good Hope reached Madras on 18 January 1780. She then sailed on via Malacca to Whampoa, which she reached on 1 September 1780. On her return voyage she stopped at Saint Helena on 19 May 1781 and reached the Downs on 20 October 1781. On her second voyage the Halsewell left Portsmouth on 11 March 1783, stopped at São Tiago and Johanna and reached Madras on 26 July 1783. The ship returned via Kedgeree, Saugor and Saint Helena, reaching the Downs on 28 August 1784.