Coromandel (1820 ship) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids History
United Kingdom
Builder	George Gooch, executor of the late Peter Everitt Mestaer, King and Queen Dock, Rotherhithe
Launched	3 January 1820
Fate	Broken up 1857
General characteristics
Tons burthen	639, or 643, or 645, or 654, or 660 (bm)

The Coromandel was a ship that started its life on the River Thames in London in 1820. It was a very busy ship during its time! It made two important trips for the British East India Company. It also carried people who had broken laws to Tasmania, an island south of Australia. For its first 15 years, the Coromandel mostly sailed to India. After that, it traveled more often to Australia and New Zealand. The ship was eventually taken apart, or broken up, in 1857.

Ship's Journeys

The Coromandel first appeared in a shipping record called Lloyd's Register in 1820. This record showed that a captain named Hunter was in charge. The ship's owners were Sccott & Co., and it was used for trade between London and India.

First Trip to India (1820–1821)

The Coromandel's first big journey for the East India Company began on April 24, 1820. Captain William Hunter was the ship's commander. They were heading to Madras in India. On their way, they stopped at Madeira on May 5. The ship finally reached Madras on August 3. For the return trip, they left Madras on October 14. They stopped at the Cape of Good Hope on December 17. The Coromandel arrived back in Gravesend, England, on March 6, 1821.

Second Trip to India (1826–1829)

The Coromandel's second journey for the East India Company was a one-way trip to Bengal, a region in India. Captain Thomas Boyes was the ship's master this time. The ship left Portsmouth on July 12, 1826. It made a stop in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on November 19. The Coromandel finally reached Calcutta on January 24, 1829.

Carrying Passengers to Australia (1838)

In 1838, the Coromandel made a special trip carrying people who had broken laws. These individuals were being transported as a form of punishment. Captain William Loader was in command. The ship sailed from London on August 14, 1838. It arrived in Hobart, Tasmania, on October 26. The Coromandel had 340 male passengers on board. Of these, 338 disembarked, or got off the ship, in Hobart.

Later Voyages

After its trips to India, the Coromandel continued to sail. By 1840, its main route was between London and New Zealand. Later, around 1850, it was sailing between London and Port Phillip, which is near Melbourne, Australia. Its last recorded journey in 1856 was from London to Australia. The ship had undergone several repairs over the years to keep it in good condition.

The End of the Ship

The Coromandel was last listed in shipping records in 1856. There are two different accounts of what happened to the ship.

One report says that a ship named Coromandel, which was 660 tons in size, was wrecked. This happened on September 28, 1856. It ran aground on the Ridge Sand in the North Sea, off the coast of Winterton-on-Sea, England. At the time, it was traveling from Arkhangelsk, Russia, to London. Luckily, the crew members were saved by another ship called the Falcon and a small fishing boat. The Coromandel was later pulled onto the beach at Great Yarmouth, England.

However, another report states that the Coromandel was simply broken up in 1857. This means it was taken apart for its materials.