Royal Charlotte (1789 EIC ship)
| History | |
|---|---|
.svg){kind=small} East India Company
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| Name: | Royal Charlotte |
| Owner: | John Clements, principal managing owner. |
| Builder: | Thomas Pitcher, Northfleet |
| Launched: | 2 November 1789 |
| Fate: | Sold to the Royal Navy in 1795 |
 United Kingdom
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| Name: | HMS Malabar |
| Acquired: | 1795 by purchase |
| Fate: | Foundered October 1796 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Fourth rate in Royal Navy service |
| Tons burthen: | 1252 19⁄94 (bm) |
| Length: |
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| Beam: | 42 ft 2 1⁄4 in (12.9 m) |
| Depth of hold: | 17 ft 6 in (5.3 m) |
| Sail plan: | Full-rigged ship |
| Complement: | 350 as Fourth Rate |
| Armament: |
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Royal Charlotte was launched in 1789 as an East Indiaman for the British East India Company (EIC). She made two trips to China for the EIC and on the second of these, after the outbreak of war with France in 1793, assisted at the British capture of Pondicherry. Then, the Admiralty, desirous of quickly building up the Royal Navy, purchased a number of commercial vessels, including nine East Indiamen, to meet the need for small two-decker fourth rates to serve as convoy escorts. The Admiralty purchased Royal Charlotte in 1795 and renamed her HMS Malabar. She made a trip to the West Indies where she was the lead ship of a small squadron that captured some Dutch colonies. She foundered in 1796 while escorting a convoy in the North Atlantic.
Royal Charlotte was the first vessel built by Thomas Pitcher at Northfleet. A good model of her is in Northfleet Church.
Josiah Pryce, who was her captain for both her journeys to the Far East, seems to have been a thoroughly unpleasant and cruel person.
Pryce left The Downs on 5 January 1790, bound for St Helena, Benkulen and China. Royal Charlotte arrived at St Helena on 27 March. She reached Benkulen on 21 June, and Whampoa anchorage on 24 August. On her return leg, she crossed the Second Bar on 15 November, arrived at the Cape of Good Hope on 9 April 1791, St Helena on 28 April, and returned to the Downs on 26 June.
Royal Charlotte left The Downs on 27 December 1792, bound for St Helena, Madras and China. She arrived at St Helena on 13 March 1793 and Madras on 10 June. From there she went to Pondicherry, arriving 14 July. There Triton, Warley, and Royal Charlotte participated in the capture of Pondicherry by maintaining a blockade of the port, together with HMS Minerva. During the blockade the British also captured a vessel "from the islands" that was bringing in military supplies. Pondicherry surrendered on 23 August and Royal Charlotte returned to Madras, arriving on 27 August. On 1 October she arrived at Penang, where the EIC had recently built a factory. Nineteen days later she was at Malacca.
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Wikipedia