Earl Fitzwilliam (1786 EIC ship) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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.svg){kind=small} British East India Company |
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| Name | Earl Fitzwilliam |
| Namesake | Earl Fitzwilliam |
| Owner |
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| Builder | Barnard, Deptford |
| Launched | 1786 |
| Fate | Burnt 23 February 1799 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tons burthen | 750, 803, or 80334⁄94 (bm) |
| Length |
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| Beam | 36 ft 1 in (11.0 m) |
| Depth of hold | 14 ft 10 in (4.5 m) |
| Complement | 100 |
| Armament | 26 × 9&4-pounder guns |
The Earl Fitzwilliam was a large sailing ship built in 1786 in Deptford, England. She was owned by the British East India Company (EIC), a powerful trading company. This ship made several long journeys, mostly to India and China, carrying goods for trade. Her story ended sadly when she caught fire in 1799 during her fifth voyage.
Contents
Voyages of the Earl Fitzwilliam
First Journey: India and China (1787–1788)
Captain James Dundas led the Earl Fitzwilliam on her first big trip. They left England on February 18, 1787. Their goal was to reach Madras in India and then Whampoa Anchorage in China.
During this voyage, a small problem happened on another EIC ship, the Belvedere. Some sailors tried to take control of their ship. Captain Dundas, being the most senior captain nearby, helped stop the mutiny. The sailors who caused trouble were held on the Earl Fitzwilliam. A group of EIC captains decided what should happen to them.
After a long journey, the Earl Fitzwilliam sailed back home. She stopped at St Helena and finally arrived back in England in July 1788.
Second Journey: India (1790–1791)
Captain Dundas set sail again on March 14, 1790. This time, the ship was headed for Bengal and Madras in India. They made stops along the way, including Madeira.
The ship reached Diamond Harbour in India in August. After trading and loading new cargo, she began her journey back to England. She stopped at places like Cox's Island, Madras again, the Cape of Good Hope, and St Helena. The Earl Fitzwilliam returned to England in October 1791.
Third Journey: India During Wartime (1793–1794)
By 1793, a war had started between Britain and France. Captain James Tweedale was now in charge of the Earl Fitzwilliam. To protect the ship, he got a special document called a letter of marque. This allowed his merchant ship to act like a warship if needed.
They left England in July 1793, heading for Bombay in India. The ship arrived in Bombay in December. She also visited Surat before returning to Bombay. On her way back to England, she stopped at Tellicherry, Calicut, and Quilon. The Earl Fitzwilliam reached St Helena and then arrived back in England in September 1794.
Fourth Journey: India (1795–1797)
Captain Tweedale began another voyage on July 9, 1795. This trip was to Madras and Bengal. The ship made a stop in Rio de Janeiro before reaching Madras in December. She then sailed to Kedgeree in February 1796.
For the return journey, the Earl Fitzwilliam visited Saugor, Madras again, the Cape of Good Hope, and St Helena. She finally arrived back in England in February 1797.
The Ship's Final Journey and Fate
Captain Tweedale started the fifth voyage from Torbay, England, in September 1797. The ship was sailing towards Bengal, India.
On February 23, 1799, a terrible fire broke out on the Earl Fitzwilliam. The ship was in the Hooghly River in India. The fire started in the gun-room and spread very quickly. The crew tried to throw anything that could float overboard to save themselves. Many of the Indian sailors, called lascars, jumped into the river.
The officers and European crew members gathered at the front of the ship. As the fire grew, the ship's loaded guns started to fire on their own because of the heat. This was very dangerous for the people still on board.
Other ships nearby, like the Nonsuch and the Thetis, sent boats to help. A brave young officer from the Thetis and two sailors rowed back and forth. They rescued as many people as they could from the burning ship.
The Earl Fitzwilliam drifted onto a sandbank called Saugor Sand. She continued to burn until early morning. Sadly, one officer and five other Europeans died. The number of lascars lost was not known for sure, but it was thought to be small.
The British East India Company lost a lot of valuable cargo in the fire. This included 6,500 sacks of saltpeter (a chemical used in gunpowder) and 600 bales of cotton. Captain Tweedale and his officers also lost their personal goods that they traded. The EIC estimated the value of its lost cargo to be about £46,250.
