Admiral Barrington (1781 ship) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
|
|---|---|
 France |
|
| Launched | 1781 |
| Fate | Captured 1782 |
 Great Britain |
|
| Name | Admiral Barrington |
| Namesake | Samuel Barrington |
| Owner |
|
| Acquired | 1783 |
| Fate | Captured by a privateer in 1797 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tons burthen | 527 (bm) |
| Length |
|
| Beam | 32 ft 4 in (9.9 m) |
| Depth of hold | 13 ft 9+3⁄4 in (4.2 m) |
| Sail plan | Ship |
| Complement | 84 (Indiaman) |
| Armament | 18 guns (Indiaman) |
| Notes | Copper sheathed in 1798 |
Admiral Barrington was a ship built in France in 1781. At first, she was a French "West Indiaman." This means she carried goods between France and its colonies in the West Indies. In 1782, a British ship captured her. She was then sold and renamed Admiral Barrington.
This ship became famous for a few reasons. She made a long trip for the East India Company (EIC) between 1787 and 1788. Her most important journey was carrying people to Australia as part of the Third Fleet. Later, pirates attacked her near Bombay, and a French privateer captured her in 1797.
Contents
Voyages for the East India Company
Admiral Barrington was an "extra ship" for the EIC. This means the company rented her for specific trips. Godfrey Thornton was her main owner.
First EIC Journey
Under Captain Charles Lindegreen, Admiral Barrington sailed to China.
- She left Portsmouth, England, on February 21, 1787.
- She reached False Bay, South Africa, on May 11.
- She arrived at Whampoa, China, on August 21.
- On her way back, she stopped at Macao and Saint Helena.
- She finally arrived in Deptford, England, on August 1, 1788.
Winter in Kronstadt
In late 1788, news reached London that Admiral Barrington was stuck in ice at Cronstadt. She had to spend the winter there. Records from 1789 show her master was J. Arnott and her owner was G. Thornton. She was sailing between London and Copenhagen at that time.
Journey with the Third Fleet
Admiral Barrington played a big role in the Third Fleet to Australia.
- She left Portsmouth, England, on March 27, 1791.
- She arrived in Port Jackson, New South Wales, on October 16, 1791.
- Captain William Paterson was on board.
- She carried three non-commissioned officers and 24 soldiers.
- These soldiers guarded 300 male convicts.
- Four free women and two children also traveled with their convict husbands.
- Sadly, 36 convicts died during the long trip.
- This meant 264 convicts arrived alive in Sydney.
- Admiral Barrington was the last of eleven ships to reach Sydney in the Third Fleet.
Pirate Attack
After her journey to Australia, Admiral Barrington left Port Jackson on January 6, 1792. She planned to hunt whales off the Australian coast. She also visited Norfolk Island.
A Dangerous Stop
The ship's captain had planned to go to China after Australia. But instead, she sailed to Batavia (now Jakarta, Indonesia). From Batavia, she headed towards India, near Bombay. A big storm pushed her onto an island.
Tragedy Strikes
On this island, local people attacked the ship's crew. Most of the crew were killed. Only the captain, the first mate, and the ship's doctor survived. They managed to swim to a nearby British East India Company ship for safety.
What Happened Next?
Newspapers in Bombay reported in 1793 that Admiral Barrington was taken by pirates and never found again. However, it seems the ship was saved! She returned to carrying goods.
In 1797, while sailing in the West Indies, a French privateer named Diede captured her. A privateer was like a pirate, but they had permission from their government to attack enemy ships. The Diede took Admiral Barrington to Bordeaux, France, where she was sold.
