| History | |
|---|---|
 British East India Company | |
| Name | London |
| Owner |
|
| Builder | Perry, Blackwall |
| Launched | 1779 |
| Fate | Broken up 1799 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tons burthen | 750, [1] 836, [2] [1] or 8362⁄94 [3] (bm) |
| Complement | |
| Armament |
|
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.
1st EIC voyage (1780–1781): Captain Daniel Webb sailed from Portsmouth on 12 February 1780, bound for Madras and China. London reached Johanna on 15 June and Madras on 23 July. She arrived at Whampoa Anchorage on 8 October. Homeward bound she crossed the Second Bar on 8 January 1781. She reached St Helena on 25 June and arrived in the Downs on 19 October. [2]
2nd EIC voyage (1783–1785): Captain John Eastabrooke sailed from Portsmouth on 11 March 1783, bound for Madras and China. London reached 3 Apr São Tiago on 3 April, Johanna on 16 July, Madras on 20 August, an Batavia on 19 November. She arrived at Whampoa on 20 February 178. Homeward bound she crossed the Second Bar on 7 April 1784. She reached St Helena on 12 November and Cork on 5 March 1785, and arrived in the Downs on 6 April. [2]
3rd EIC voyage (1786–1787): Captain Eastabrooke sailed from the Downs on 2 February 1786, bound for Madras and China. London reached São Tiago on 16 March, Madras on 13 July, and Sulu on- 9 November; she arrived at Whampoa on 17 January 1787. Homeward bound she crossed the Second Bar on 6 April. She reached St Helena on 30 August and arrived in the Downs on 5 November. [2]
4th EIC voyage (1789–1790): Captain Eastabrooke sailed from Portsmouth on 12 April 1789, bound for Bombay. London reached Madeira on 30 April and Johanna on 6 September. She arrived at Bombay on 27 October. She visited Surat on 4 March 1790, returning to Bombay on 7 March. Homeward bound, she reached Tellichery on 28 April, Cochin on 7 May, and St Helena on 9 August. She arrived back in the Downs on 3 November. [2]
5th EIC voyage (1793–1794): War with France had begun when Captain James Ludovic Grant sailed from Portsmouth on 22 May 1793, bound for Bombay. [2] Before he left England, he inquired a letter of marque on 21 March 1793. [1]
London was part of a convoy that also included the East Indiamen Prince William, Lord Thurlow, William Pitt, Barwell, Earl of Oxford, Osterley, Fort William, Ceres, Glatton, Houghton, Marquis of Landsdown, Hillsborough, Pigot, and Earl of Abergavenny, amongst numerous other vessels, merchant and military, most of the non-Indiamen travelling to the Mediterranean. [4]
On 24 June 1793 the fleet of Indiamen captured the French brig Franc; [5] the crew of Ceres took possession.
London reached Bombay on 14 September. She visited Anjengo on 12 November and returned to Bombay on 14 December. Homeward bound, she reached the Cape on 26 February 1794, St Helena on 18 March, and Galway Bay on 20 July; she arrived back in the Downs on 27 August. [2]
6th EIC voyage (1795–1796): Captain Grant sailed from Portsmouth on 24 May 1795, bound for Bombay. London arrived at Bombay on 3 September. She visited Anjengo on 16 November, and returned to Bombay on 28 December. Homeward bound, she reached St Helena on 22 March 1796 and arrived in the Downs on 2 August. [2]
7th EIC voyage (1798–1799): Captain George Lukin acquired a letter of marque on 17 February 1798. He sailed from Portsmouth on 25 March 1798, bound for Bombay and Bengal. London reached Bombay on 12 July, and Madras on 15 August. She arrived at Diamond Harbour on 6 September. Homeward bound, she was at Saugor on 14 December. She reached Colombo on 4 February 1799 and St Helena on 18 May; she arrived in the Downs on 28 July. [2]
In 1799 she was sold for breaking up. [3]
Warley, launched in 1796, was one of the British East India Company's (EIC), larger and more famous East Indiamen. She made nine voyages to the East between 1796 and 1816, most direct to China. In 1804 she participated in the Battle of Pulo Aura. In 1816, the company sold her for breaking up.
Barwell was a merchantman launched in 1782. She made six voyages for the British East India Company (EIC). She then left the EIC's service but continued to sail. She made one voyage transporting convicts in 1797 from England to Australia. She was last listed in 1807.
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.
Woodford was launched in 1790 and made nine voyages as an East Indiaman for the British East India Company (EIC). In 1797 her captain was commodore of a small group of East Indiamen that managed to bluff a French squadron of warships into sailing away to avoid an engagement. In 1812 Woodford was sold for breaking up.
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.
King George was launched in 1784 and made six voyages for the British East India Company (EIC) between 1785 and 1798. She also participated in the invasion of St Lucia. In 1798 her owners sold her and she became a West Indiaman. An accident in 1800 at Jamaica destroyed her.
Airly Castle, was built by William Barnard at Deptford and launched in 1787. She made eight voyages as an East Indiaman for the British East India Company (EIC) between 1788 and 1808. In 1795 she participated in the capture of seven Dutch East Indiamen near St Helena. After her eight voyages she may have served briefly as a general transport before she was sold for breaking up in 1810. She was not broken up but instead served as a transport for several years.
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.
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.
Lord Macartney was launched in 1782 as an East Indiaman. She made six voyages for the British East India Company (EIC0 before she was sold in 1798. She then traded across the Atlantic to North America and was last listed in 1811.
Melville Castle was launched in 1786 as an East Indiaman. She made seven voyages for the British East India Company (EIC). She was sold in 1802 to Dutch owners and wrecked with great loss of life later that year on her first voyage for them.
Carnatic was launched in 1787. She made six voyages as an East Indiaman for the British East India Company (EIC). She was sold for breaking up in 1802.
Contractor was launched in 1779 as an East Indiaman. She made seven voyages for the British East India Company (EIC). She made one voyage as a transport for a military expedition before her owners sold her in 1800 for use as a transport.
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.
Earl of Wycombe was launched in 1786 as an East Indiaman. She made six voyages for the British East India Company (EIC). In 1800 she became a general trader, trading across the Atlantic to the West Indies and Canada. She was lost without a trace c.1803.
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.
Europa was launched in 1781 as an East Indiaman. She made six voyages for the British East India Company (EIC). She was probably broken up in 1798.
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.
Walpole was launched on the Thames in 1779. She made seven voyages for the British East India Company (EIC). On the sixth voyage, on her way to China, her captain discovered an island that he named Walpole Island. She was sold for breaking up in 1799.