Surprize (1780 ship)
Justinian and Surprize standing into Sydney Bay, Norfolk Island, 23 August 1790; William Bradley
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| History | |
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 United Kingdom
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| Name: | Surprize |
| Owner: | Calvert & Co. |
| Builder: | Shoreham |
| Launched: | 1780 |
| Captured: | 1799 in the Bay of Bengal |
| General characteristics | |
| Tons burthen: | 394, or 402 (bm) |
| Length: |
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| Beam: | 29 ft 5 in (9.0 m) |
| Depth of hold: | 13 ft 3 in (4.0 m) |
| Complement: | 24 |
| Armament: |
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Surprize was a three-deck merchant vessel launched in 1780 that made five voyages as a packet ship under charter to the British East India Company (EIC). The fourth of which was subsequent to her participating in the notorious Second Fleet transporting convicts to Port Jackson (EIC). Her fifth voyage for the EIC was subsequent to her second voyage transporting convicts to Australia. In 1799 a French frigate captured her in the Bay of Bengal.
Under the command of Captain David Asquith, Surprize left Bengal on 22 April 1783 and reached the River Shannon on 11 September. She arrived at The Downs on 17 October.
Captain Asquith sailed for Bengal, leaving Britain on 23 January 1784. She may have left as late as 29 April. She arrived at Calcutta by 9 September, bringing with her "a variety of articles, as well useful as curious".Surprize arrived back in Britain on 16 May 1785.
Captain Asquith left the Downs on 10 July 1785. He was sailing to Madras and Bengal. Surprize was then to remain there.
It is not clear when Surprize returned to Britain. She was in Britain in 1789, being repaired by Calvert (her owner). At that time her measurements were taken. Her entry in Lloyd's Register for 1789 has an addendum showing that she would be sailing for Botany Bay. Camden, Calvert & King, contracted to transport, clothe and feed convicts for a flat fee of £17 7s. 6d per head, whether they landed alive or not.
In company with Neptune and Scarborough, she sailed from England with 254 male convicts on 19 January 1790. Her master was Nicholas Anstis, formerly chief mate on Lady Penrhyn in the First Fleet, and surgeon was William Waters.
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