| History | |
|---|---|
 Great Britain | |
| Name | Defence |
| Owner | Reginald Kemys [1] |
| Builder | Thomas Bronsdon, Deptford [1] |
| Launched | 11 June 1735 [1] |
| Fate | Sold 1743 [1] |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | East Indiaman |
| Tons burthen | 485 (rated), [2] [lower-alpha 1] or 550 [1] (bm) |
| Crew | 97 [2] |
| Armament | 30 guns [2] |
Defence was launched in 1735 at Deptford. She made three voyages to India, the Red Sea, and China for the British East India Company (EIC) between 1736 and 1743 before she was sold out of the EIC's service
1st EIC voyage (1736–1837): Captain James Montgomery sailed from the Downs on 6 February 1736, bound for Madras, Bengal, and Bombay. Defence reached Madras on 26 July. She was at Fulta and by 22 October at Ingeli. On 23 November she was at Anjengo. She reached Cochin on 27 November and Tellicherry on 4 December, and arrived at Bombay on 24 December. Homeward bound, she was at Cochin again on 10 February 1837 and Anjengo on 13 February. She reached St Helena on 3 June and arrived back at the Downs on 22 August. [2]
On this voyage Montgomery at some point unexpectedly found himself close to Ceylon. Defence struck three times on the south end of the bank near Batacalo, but quickly got into deep water. [3]
2nd EIC voyage (1738–1740): Captain Thomas Coates sailed from the Downs on 8 November 1738, bound for Mokha and Bombay. Defence reached the Cape of Good Hope on 25 January 1739 and arrived at Mokha on 15 April. On 6 August she arrived at Bombay. Homeward-bound, she was at Tellicherry on 17 September, Cochin on 23 September, Anjengo on 5 October, and the Cape on 5 January 1740. She reached St Helena on 27 January, and arrived back at the Downs on 16 September. [2]
3rd EIC voyage (1742–1743): Captain Coates sailed from the Downs on 9 February 1742, bound for China. Defence reached the Whampoa Anchorage on 13 July. Homeward bound, she crossed the Second Bar on 25 January 1743, reached St Helena on 1 May, and arrived back at the Downs on 6 August. [2]
Defence was sold out of the EIC's service in 1743. [1]
Royal Captain was a three-decked East Indiaman, launched in 1760, that made four voyages for the British East India Company between 1761 and 1771. She was sold 1771 for breaking up.
Scarborough was an East Indiaman launched in December 1734 that performed two voyages for the British East India Company (EIC). The Admiralty purchased her in 1739 and commissioned her as HMS Scarborough. The original intent was to use her as a storeship, but instead she was fitted up as a hospital ship. The Admiralty sold her in 1744.
Albion was an East Indiaman of the British East India Company (EIC). She made eight voyages for the EIC before she was sold to the British government in 1810 for service as a troopship. She was lost at sea in 1816.
York was launched in 1773 as an East Indiaman' She then made five voyages for the British East India Company (EIC) between 1773 and 1787. She then became a general merchantman and was last listed in 1794.
Experiment was launched in 1802 and was immediately taken up by the British East India Company (EIC), as an "extra ship" on a multi-voyage charter. She made three voyages for the EIC and disappeared without a trace while homeward bound on her fourth voyage in the same storm that claimed two other East Indiamen.
Northumberland was launched in 1780 to serve as a regular ship of the British East India Company (EIC). She made six voyages for the EIC between 1780 and 1797. She was sold in 1797 for breaking up.
Rockingham was launched as an East Indiaman in 1785. She made seven voyages for the British East India Company (EIC) between 1786 and 1802 before she was sold for breaking up.
Raymond was launched in 1782 as an East Indiaman for the British East India Company (EIC). She made six voyages for the EIC and participated as a transport in Admiral Hugh Cloberry Christian's expedition in 1795–96 to the West Indies. The French captured her in 1798. American owners purchased her, renamed her Orion, and sailed her from Mauritius to Boston in 1799.
Stafford was an East Indiaman launched in 1769 that made two complete voyages to India and China for the British East India Company. During her third voyage she was wrecked in 1779 at Calcutta.
Lord Camden was launched in 1783 as an East Indiaman for the British East India Company. She made five voyages for the EIC before her owner sold her.
Dublin was launched in 1784 as an East Indiaman. She made six voyages for the British East India Company (EIC), to India and China. On her last voyage for the EIC she recaptured a country ship. Her owners sold Dublin in 1800 and she became a West Indiaman, but apparently was lost on her first voyage.
Duke of Montrose was launched in 1785 as an East Indiaman. She made eight voyages for the British East India Company (EIC). She then briefly became a troop transport, sailing to the West Indies. She was sold in 1811 for breaking up.
Essex was launched in 1780 as an East Indiaman. She made six voyages for the British East India Company (EIC). On her first voyage she was present at an inconclusive battle with the French, and later at a second inconclusive engagement with a French frigate. In 1798 she was sold to be hulked or broken up.
General Eliott was launched in 1782 as the East Indiaman Fletcher, but was renamed before completion to honour General Elliott's defence of Gibraltar. Under the ownership of Robert Preston, she made six voyages for the British East India Company (EIC) and one voyage as a transport for a naval expedition. She then became a West Indiaman until she was sold for breaking up in 1802.
Travers was launched in 1800 as an East Indiaman. She made four complete voyages as an "extra ship" for the British East India Company (EIC). She was wrecked near the end of the outward-bound leg of her fifth voyage.
Worcester was launched in 1785 as an East Indiaman for the British East India Company (EIC). She made eight voyages to India and China for the EIC and participated as a transport in two naval expeditions before she was sold in 1809 for breaking up.
Walthamstow was launched in December 1799 in Rotherhithe. She made six voyages for the British East India Company (EIC). She was sold in 1814 for breaking up.
David Scott was launched at Bombay in 1801. She was a "country ship", i.e., she generally traded east of the Cape of Good Hope. Between 1802 and 1816 she made five voyages between India and the United Kingdom as an "extra ship" for the British East India Company (EIC). Thereafter she traded between Britain and India under a license from the EIC. A fire destroyed her at Mauritius on 12 June 1841.
London was launched in 1779 as an East Indiaman. She made seven voyages for the British East India Company (EIC), between 1780 and 1798. She was sold for breaking up in 1799.
Warren Hastings was launched in 1781 as an East Indiaman for the British East India Company (EIC). She made six voyages for the EIC before being sold in 1797 for breaking up.