Earl of Mornington (1799 ship) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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.svg){kind=small} Great Britain |
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| Name | Earl of Mornington |
| Owner | East India Company |
| Builder | Perry, Wells & Green, Blackwall Yard |
| Launched | 24 January 1799 |
| Fate | Sold February 1804 |
 United Kingdom |
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| Name | HMS Drake |
| Acquired | Purchased February 1804 |
| Fate | Broken up 1808 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | East Indiaman |
| Tons burthen | 241, 253, or 25317⁄94 (bm) |
| Length | 104 ft 0 in (31.7 m) (overall); 79 ft 3 in (24.2 m) (keel) |
| Beam | 24 ft 6 in (7.5 m) |
| Complement |
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| Armament |
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The Earl of Mornington was a special type of ship called a packet ship. She was built in 1799 for the British East India Company (EIC). These ships were very important for carrying mail, passengers, and valuable goods across the oceans.
The Earl of Mornington made one big trip for the East India Company. She sailed all the way from England to India and then returned home. Later, in 1804, the British Royal Navy bought her. They renamed her HMS Drake. She served the Royal Navy for a few years until 1808, when she was taken apart.
Contents
The Ship's Early Life: East India Company Service
The Earl of Mornington was likely named after Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley. He was an important person at the time.
This ship made one main voyage for the East India Company. Her captain was George Simpson. He received a special document called a letter of marque on October 7, 1799. This document allowed his merchant ship to carry guns and defend itself. At that time, the ship had eight 12-pounder guns.
According to records from 1800, the Earl of Mornington weighed about 253 tons. Captain Simpson was her master, and the East India Company owned her. Her main route was between London and India.
A Long Journey to India and Back
The ship started her journey from Britain on November 20, 1799. She reached Calcutta, India, on April 22, 1800. After some time, she left Kedgeree, India, on November 5.
By May 12, 1801, she had arrived at Simon's Bay, which is near South Africa. But then, on August 8, she was back in Calcutta. On March 11, 1802, she left Culpee, another anchorage near Calcutta. From there, she sailed to Saint Helena by June 28. Finally, she arrived back at The Downs in England on August 19, 1802.
The Earl of Mornington might have sailed again in 1802. Records show her at St Helena on June 10, 1803. She was returning from a trip to the South Seas.
In 1804, the Admiralty, which manages the Royal Navy, bought the Earl of Mornington. They changed her name to HMS Drake. She officially joined the Royal Navy in October 1804. Commander William H. Drury was her first captain in the Navy.
Joining a Squadron and Capturing Surinam
HMS Drake became part of a group of ships led by Commodore Hood. This group helped capture the Surinam River in 1804. The squadron included several warships like HMS Centaur and HMS Alligator. They also carried about 2,000 soldiers. The British forces successfully took control with very few injuries.
On April 12, 1805, Drake sailed to Jamaica. Later that year, on November 1, William Furlong Wise became her new Commander. He was related to Admiral James Richard Dacres, who was in charge of the naval station there. In April, Commander Wise moved to another ship.
Chasing a Privateer
In 1806, Commander F. Mere took command of Drake. However, she was under the command of Robert Nicholas on October 26. On that day, Drake helped corner a French privateer ship called Superbe. A privateer was a private ship allowed by its government to attack enemy merchant ships.
The schooner HMS Pitt, led by Lieutenant Michael Fitton, was already fighting Superbe. Superbe's captain then intentionally ran his ship aground at Ocoa Bay. This allowed him and his remaining crew to escape.
Commander John Parish replaced Nicholas in November 1806. In October 1807, Commander George Bell took over. By 1808, Lieutenant John Fleming was temporarily in command.
The End of Her Journey
HMS Drake was taken apart, or "broken up," in 1808. This happened at Sheerness, a naval dockyard.
