Fishburn (1799 ship) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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|---|---|
 Great Britain |
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| Name | Fishburn |
| Laid down | Sunderland |
| Launched | 1799 |
| Fate | Wrecked 19 February 1803 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tons burthen | 360 (bm) |
| Armament | 8 × 6-pounder guns + 8 × 12-pounder carronades |
The Fishburn was a ship launched in 1799 in Sunderland, England. It was a merchant ship, meaning it carried goods for trade. At first, it sailed between England and Riga, a city in Russia. In 1800, the Russian government seized the ship, which means they took control of it.
This event led to some legal problems. The Fishburn was later sold to new owners. They changed its trade route to sail between Liverpool, England, and places like Honduras or Yucatan in Central America. Sadly, the Fishburn was wrecked in 1803 while sailing back to London from Honduras.
Contents
Fishburn and its Journeys
The Fishburn first appeared in Lloyd's Register in 1800. This register was like a big record book for ships. It showed that W. Simmons was the ship's first captain, and its main route was between London and Riga.
Seized by Russia
In November 1800, something big happened in Russia. Emperor Paul I of Russia decided to stop all British ships from trading in Russian ports. This was part of a larger disagreement between countries at the time.
About 200 British ships were seized, and thousands of sailors were taken prisoner. The Fishburn arrived in Russia on November 29, 1800, and was also seized. Its crew members were taken prisoner and marched far inland.
After about six months, the crew returned to the Fishburn. They reloaded its cargo and sailed the ship back to Plymouth, England, arriving in August 1801.
Legal Problems
Because of the ship's seizure, some legal cases came up. One sailor, John Andrew Fisher, sued for his wages. He wanted to be paid for the time he was held prisoner. He won his case and was awarded money.
There was also a case about the ownership of the Fishburn. The ship was sold while it was still held in Russia. This caused confusion about who truly owned parts of the ship. A court had to decide who was the rightful owner.
New Owners and Last Voyage
In 1802, Lloyd's Register showed that the Fishburn had new owners and a new captain. Its trade route also changed. Instead of going to Russia, it started sailing between London and Yucatan.
On August 6, 1802, the Fishburn set sail from Gravesend, England, heading for Yucatan.
The Ship's Final Journey
The Fishburn was lost on February 19, 1803. It was wrecked off the coast of Honduras. This happened just one day after it had left Honduras to sail back to London.
