Hillsborough (1774 ship)
| History | |
|---|---|
.svg){kind=small} United Kingdom
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| Name: | Hillsborough |
| Owner: | Charles Foulis |
| Builder: | Perry & Co., Blackwall Yard |
| Cost: | £8676 |
| Launched: | 23 July 1774 |
| Captured: | 1780 |
 Kingdom of Spain
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| Name: | Santa Balbina |
| Captured: | 1780 |
| Fate: | Sold for breaking up 1794 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tons burthen: | 741, or 741 11⁄94, or 764 59⁄94 (bm) |
| Length: |
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| Beam: | 35 ft 7 in (10.8 m) |
| Depth of hold: | 14 ft 2 in (4.3 m) |
| Armament: |
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Hillsborough was a three-decker East Indiaman launched in 1774. She made two voyages to India and China for the British East India Company. Her voyages took place during the American War of Independence, and she had just set out on her third voyage when a Spanish fleet captured her on 9 August 1780, together with almost the entire convoy of which she was a member. The Spanish Navy took her into service as Santa Balbina, a frigate of 34 guns. She was sold in 1794 for breaking up.
Captain Robert Preston left Portsmouth on 19 March 1775, bound for Madras and Bengal. Hillsborough reached Madeira on 16 April, Madeira, Johanna on 6 August, and Madras on 15 September, and arrived at Kedgeree on 24 October. On her return voyage she passed Barrabulla (or Barra Bulla), either the sandbank or head on the Hooghli River, on 22 January 1776. She reached Madras again on 9 February, St Helena on 25 May, and the Downs on 18 August.
Captain Pitt Collett left Plymouth on 9 February 1778, bound for Madras and China. Hillsborough reached False Bay on 21 April, Madras on 19 June, and Malacca on 26 August, and arrived at Whampoa on 27 September. She started home, crossing the Second Bar, about 20 miles down river from Whampoa, on 2 March 1779. She reached Balambangan on 1 June, St Helena on 24 September, and the Downs on 12 Jan 1780.
Collett and Hillsborough left Portsmouth on 27 July 1780, as part of an enormous convoy of 63 merchantmen, including four more East Indiamen, Gatton, Godfrey, Mountstuart, and Royal George.Hillsborough was bound for Madras and Bengal, though the other vessels had diverse destinations, almost all being bound to the West Indies. The entire convoy was under the escort of HMS Ramillies, under the command of Sir John Moutray, and three frigates, including the 36-gun frigates HMS Thetis and HMS Southampton.
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Wikipedia