Career
EIC voyage #1 (1796–1797): Captain Henry Mathias Elmore sailed from Saugor on 31 May 1796, bound for England. Varuna was at Pondicherry on 6 July and reached St Helena on 11 October. She left there on 13 November and reached Bristol on 14 January 1797. She left Bristol on 10 March and arrived at The Downs on 25 March. [2]
Varuna was admitted to the Registry of Great Britain on 11 May 1797. [9] She then made three more voyages for the EIC after having undergone repairs by Barnard. [2] She entered Lloyd's Register in 1797 (published in 1796), with H. Elmore, master, Princep & Co. owners, and trade London−Bengal. [4]
EIC voyage #2 (1797–1799): The EIC chartered Varunna for one voyage at a rate of £24/ton for 550 measured tons, and £12/ton for surplus. [10] Captain Elmore sailed from London on 5 July, and from Torbay on 22 September 1797, bound for Bengal and Madras. Varuna reached the Cape of Good Hope on 22 December and departed on 19 February 1798. She arrived at Diamond Harbour on 4 May. On his arrival at Calcutta Captain Elmore retired. [2]
Homeward bound, she departed Kedgeree on 21 September and reached Madras on 13 October. She was at the Cape on 3 January 1799, reached St Helena on 9 February, which she left on 9 May, and arrived at The Downs on 13 July. [2] By one report her master on her return was Thomas Thomas. She returned as part of the homeward-bound East India fleet under the escort of HMS Raisonable. [11]
Varuna sailed from London on 20 November 1799 bound for Madras and Bengal with a cargo £45,000 declared value. [12]
EIC voyage #3 (1800–1801): Captain William Ward Farrer sailed from Bengal in 1800, bound for England. Varuna left Saugor on 11 December 1800, reached the Cape on 15 February 1801 and St Helena on 7 March, and arrived at The Downs on 29 May. [2] Varuna was part of a small convoy under escort by Buffalo that also included Minerva, Highland Chief, and Friendship. [13]
The convoy also brought with it Colonel Robert Brooke, The former governor of St Helena. [13] Varuna sailed back to Calcutta on 24 August 1801. [1]
Varuna sailed from Portsmouth on 9 September 1801, bound for Bengal. She was part of a convoy under escort by HMS Seahorse that also included General Stuart, Manship, Sarah Christiana, Northampton, Ann, Sovereign, Caledonia, Comet, Princess Mary, Carron, Elizabeth, Monarch, and Friendship. The convoy reached Madeira on 23 September, and left the next day. [14]
EIC voyage #4 (1803): Captain John Lowe sailed from Kedgeree on 19 February 1803, bound for England. Varuna reached St Helena on 19 May. She arrived at the River Shannon on 26 July and left on 14 August. She arrived at the Downs on 24 August. [2]
Subsequent career
Between 1803 and 1805 Varuna served the Transport Board as a troopship. [1]
The Register of Shipping for 1806 (published in 1805), gives the name of Varuna's master and owner as Dennison, and her trade as London–India. [5] Captain Edward Stephenson Dennison acquired a letter of marque on 28 June 1805. [7] He then sailed from London on 4 July, bound for India. [1]
Varuna was one of the EIC vessels that were part of the expedition under General Sir David Baird and Admiral Sir Home Riggs Popham that would in 1806 capture the Dutch Cape Colony. [15] They would carry supplies and troops to the Cape, and then continue on their voyages.
At 3:30 a.m. on 1 November, near Rocas Atoll at 3°51′27″N33°48′57″W / 3.85750°N 33.81583°W / 3.85750; -33.81583 , HMS Leda sighted breakers and fired a gun, the signal to tack, herself barely missing the danger. King George was unable to tack and wrecked. As Britannia was on the point of tacking she ran afoul of Streatham and lost her bowsprit and foretopmast. She then drifted on to the atoll where she lost her rudder and bilged. [16] In the morning Leda was able to rescue the survivors from King George and Comet, Europe, and Varuna sent their boats and were able to rescue about 400 people from Britannia, including Captain Brisk, his crew, and recruits for the EIC's armies. [16]
At St Salvador Bay Biard hired her to take on board some of the crew and troops from Britannia and King George.
The British fleet, including Varuna, arrived in Table Bay on 5 January 1806 and anchored off Robben Island. [17] The military and naval commanders paid the Government in Bengal £3370 for beer taken out of Varuna and issued to the King's ships. [18] After Jansens, the Dutch Governor, signed a capitulation on the 18 January, and the British established control of the Cape Colony, Belliqueux escorted the East Indiamen After the Dutch Governor Jansens signed a capitulation on 18 January 1806, and the British established control of the Cape Colony, HMS Belliqueux escorted the East Indiamen William Pitt, Jane, Duchess of Gordon, Sir William Pulteney, and Comet to Madras. The convoy included the Northampton, Streatham, Europe, Union, Glory, and Sarah Christiana. [19]
Fate
Varuna appears to have sailed as a country ship, i.e., in the East Indies and possibly to China, after her return to India. [1]
Varuna arrived in Calcutta on 9 October 1806 from Penang, having sailed from there on 4 October. She carried Captain Forest, whose ship Sydney had wrecked at New Guinea. [20]
An 1809 listing of vessels belonging to Bombay lists Varuna. with George Douglas, master, and Bruce, Fawcett, and Co., owners. [8]
Varuna, Douglas, master, appears in a list of country ships lost in the India and China Seas. Varuna was lost in the China Seas in 1811, presumed to have foundered in a typhoon. [21] [22]
Minerva was a merchantman launched in 1773 in the East Indies. She traded there for more than 20 years before she made three voyages for the British East India Company (EIC). The first EIC voyage was from 1796 to 1798. In 1799 she transported convicts from Ireland to Australia while under charter to the EIC. From Australia she sailed to Bengal, and then back to Britain. She underwent repairs in 1802 and then traveled to St Helena and Bengal for the EIC. She was lost in 1805 or 1806 under circumstances that are currently unclear.
Friendship was a three-decker merchantman, launched in 1793. She made three voyages for the British East India Company (EIC). During her first voyage, in 1796, a French privateer captured her, but the Royal Navy recaptured her. On the second, in 1799, she transported convicts from Ireland to Australia. She made a second voyage transporting convicts in 1817-18. On her way back she was broken up in 1819 at Mauritius after having been found unseaworthy.
Earl Spencer was an East Indiaman, launched in 1795 for the British East India Company (EIC). She made seven voyages for the EIC until in 1811-12 the government took her up to transport convicts to Australia in 1813. On her return voyage from Australia she sailed via China, where she carried a cargo back to England for the EIC.
Northampton, was a three-decker merchant ship launched in 1801 upon the River Thames, England. She made eight voyages to India as an extra (chartered) ship for the British East India Company (EIC) between 1801 and 1819. During the same period she made one separate trip transporting convicts from Britain to New South Wales, followed by a voyage for the EIC from China back to England. In 1820 she carried settlers to South Africa. She is last listed in Lloyd's Register in 1822.
Comet was launched in 1800 on the Thames. In 1801 she made a voyage under charter to the British East India Company (EIC). On her second voyage, in 1803, the French captured her. Still, in 1804 her previous owners were able to reacquire her. She then made another voyage for the EIC. On her return she first served as a troopship and then in the West Indies trade. She apparently was lost in 1815 or 1816.
Cecilia was launched in 1790, possibly at Pegu, Surat, Bombay, or Calcutta. She transferred to British registry in 1797 after sailing there under charter to the British East India Company (EIC). She made one more voyage for the EIC and was wrecked in January 1804.
Exeter was launched at Calcutta in 1793. She made three voyages from Calcutta to England for the British East India Company (EIC). She was lost in August 1806 in a hurricane while returning to London from Jamaica.
Queen was launched at Quebec in 1795. She made three voyages for the British East India Company (EIC) and then became a West Indiaman, trading between London and West Indies. She was last listed in 1813.
Coverdale was launched at Whitby in 1795. She made two voyages for the British East India Company (EIC). She then became a West Indiaman. She foundered in 1806 on her way back to England from Jamaica.
Europe was launched in 1803 as an East Indiaman for the British East India Company (EIC). She made six voyages for the EIC. On her third voyage the French captured her, but the British Royal Navy recaptured her some months later. In 1817 her owners sold her for a hulk but new owners continued to sail her between London and India. She is last listed in 1824.
Huddart was launched in 1803 as an East Indiaman. She made eight voyages for the British East India Company (EIC), between 1803 and 1818. In 1810-1811 she participated as a transport in two British military campaigns. In 1818 new owners deployed her in sailing to Canada. She was wrecked there in 1821.
Sir Stephen Lushington was launched in 1796 as an East Indiaman. She made seven voyages for the British East India Company (EIC). During this period she took part as a transport in two military campaigns, the cancelled attack on Manila in 1797, and the capture of Mauritius in 1810. In 1812 she became a West Indiaman, thought around 1816 she made another voyage to India. Thereafter her ownership and trade becomes ambiguous: she either traded with Spain until 1822, or with South America until 1825.
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.
Manship was launched in 1785 as an East Indiaman. She made six voyages as a "regular ship" for the British East India Company (EIC). In June 1795 Manship shared with several other Indiamen and the Royal Navy in the capture of eight Dutch East Indiamen off St Helena. Her owners sold her in 1801 and she then made one voyage for the EIC as an "extra ship" on a voyage charter. Her owners sold her to the British government in 1803 for use as a powder hulk.
Euphrates was launched in 1803 as an East Indiaman. Between 1803 and 1812 she made four voyages to India for the British East India Company (EIC). During these voyages she participated as a transport in two military campaigns, the capture of the Cape of Good Hope and of Mauritius. She was wrecked in 1813 towards the end of the outward leg of a fifth voyage to India.
Sir William Pulteney was launched in 1803 at Calcutta as a country ship She sailed to England on a voyage for the British East India Company (EIC) and her owner sold her there. The EIC then engaged her as an "extra ship" for six voyages as an East Indiaman to India and back. She was sold in 1817.
Sarah Christiana was launched in 1798. She made one voyage as an "extra ship" for the British East India Company (EIC). She then made a voyage to Jamaica. On her return, the EIC engaged her for four more voyages as an East Indiaman. In 1810 she was sold and became a West Indiaman. She was wrecked broken up in 1828.
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.
Surat Castle was launched at Surat in 1788 as a country ship, that is, a vessel that traded around and from India, staying east of the Cape of Good Hope. She originally was intended for the cotton trade with China. From 1796 to 1817 she made nine voyages for the British East India Company (EIC). She then made one more voyage under a license from the EIC. She made one more voyage to India, this time under a licence from the EIC and then disappeared from easily accessible online sources after her sale in 1819.
Indus was launched in 1803 at Newcastle on Tyne. In 1804 the British East India Company (EIC) hired her for six voyages to India as an "extra ship". She completed the last of these six voyages in 1814. Thereafter she continued to trade with India, but privately, sailing under a licence from the EIC. She was last listed in 1823.
Great Britain
