Princess Amelia (1786 EIC ship) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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.svg){kind=small} Great Britain |
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| Name | Princess Amelia |
| Namesake | Princess Amelia of Great Britain |
| Owner | Robert Williams |
| Operator | British East India Company |
| Builder | Barnard & Dudman, Deptford, or Randall |
| Launched | 8 November 1786 |
| Fate | Burned 5 April 1798 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tons burthen | 799, or 808, or 80849⁄94 |
| Length |
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| Beam | 36 ft 3 in (11.0 m) |
| Depth of hold | 14 ft 11 in (4.5 m) |
| Propulsion | Sails |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Complement |
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| Armament |
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| Notes | Three decks |
Princess Amelia was a large sailing ship built in 1786. She was an East Indiaman, which means she was a merchant ship used by the British East India Company (EIC). These ships carried valuable goods like spices, tea, and textiles between Britain and India. Princess Amelia completed four long voyages for the EIC before she was sadly destroyed by a fire in 1798.
Contents
Adventures at Sea: Princess Amelia's Voyages
The Princess Amelia made several important trips for the East India Company. Each journey was long and challenging, taking many months to complete.
First Journey: 1787–1788
Captain Stephen Williams was in charge of the first voyage. The ship left The Downs in England on February 19, 1787. Her destination was Madras and Bengal in India. Along the way, she stopped at Madeira. Princess Amelia reached Madras in July and then Diamond Harbour later that month. For her return trip, she sailed from Saugor in March 1788. She stopped at Madras again, then St Helena, and finally arrived back in England on August 31, 1788.
Second Journey: 1790–1791
For her second trip, Captain George Millett took command. Princess Amelia departed from The Downs on March 25, 1790, heading for Bengal. She arrived at Diamond Harbour in August. On her way back to England, she left Saugor in December. The ship made stops at the Cape of Good Hope and St Helena. She returned to The Downs on April 20, 1791.
Third Journey: 1793–1794
Captain Millett led the third voyage as well. The Princess Amelia left Portsmouth on April 5, 1793. This time, she was bound for Madras and Bengal. She reached Madras in August and then Diamond Harbour in September. Her journey home began from Saugor in November. After visiting St Helena, the ship arrived back at The Downs on April 30, 1794.
Fourth Journey: 1795–1796
During the Princess Amelia's previous voyage, a big war had started between Britain and France. This was part of the French Revolutionary Wars. Because of the war, Captain Millett got a special document called a letter of marque on April 3, 1795. This allowed the merchant ship to carry guns and defend itself, or even attack enemy ships. The ship sailed from Portsmouth on May 24, heading for Bombay (now Mumbai). She arrived there on September 3. On her way back, she stopped at St Helena and reached The Downs on August 3, 1796.
The Tragic Loss of Princess Amelia
After her fourth voyage, Captain John Ramsden took over as the new commander of Princess Amelia. He also obtained a letter of marque on March 10, 1797, for the ship's next journey.
Final Voyage and Fire
Captain Ramsden set sail from Portsmouth on April 6, 1797. This was Princess Amelia's fifth voyage for the East India Company, and she was bound for Bombay.
Sadly, on April 5, 1798, while the ship was on its way back home, a terrible fire broke out. The Princess Amelia was off the coast of India, near Pidgeon's Island (14°01′N 74°19′E / 14.017°N 74.317°E). The fire started in the back part of the ship, called the aft hold, around 1 AM. It spread so quickly that nothing could be saved.
Survivors and Aftermath
Many people were on board the Princess Amelia. Tragically, 16 crew members and 24 passengers lost their lives in the fire. However, 80 crew members and 59 passengers managed to survive. Another ship, the Woodcot, which was sailing nearby, rescued the survivors. The East India Company estimated that the cargo lost on the Princess Amelia was worth about £22,061.
A Captain's Testimony
Captain Ramsden, who was in command when Princess Amelia was lost, later gave a statement. He supported a special clock called a chronometer, made by Thomas Earnshaw. Chronometers were very important for sailors to figure out their exact location at sea. Captain Ramsden had used an Earnshaw chronometer on his final voyage to Bombay.
