Scarborough (1782 ship) facts for kids
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Convict transport Scarborough by Frank Allen
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| History | |
|---|---|
 Great Britain |
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| Name | Scarborough |
| Namesake | Scarborough, North Yorkshire |
| Owner | John, George, & Thomas Hopper |
| Builder | Fowler & Heward, Scarborough, North Yorkshire |
| Launched | 1782, Scarborough |
| Fate | Foundered April 1805 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tons burthen | 41091⁄94, or 411, or 412, or 428 or 429 (bm) |
| Length |
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| Beam | 29 feet 10 inches (9.1 m) |
| Depth of hold | 12 feet 5+1⁄2 inches (3.8 m) |
| Propulsion | Sail |
| Sail plan | Ship rig |
| Complement |
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| Armament |
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The Scarborough was a large sailing ship built in 1782. It had two decks and three masts. This ship is famous for being part of the First Fleet. This was a group of ships that carried the first European settlers and people who had broken the law to Australia in 1788.
After its trips to Australia, Scarborough also worked for the East India Company. This company hired the ship to carry tea back to Britain. For much of its life, Scarborough was a "West Indiaman." This means it traded goods between London and the West Indies. In 1805, the ship sank after a battle with a French privateer.
Contents
Getting Ready for Big Journeys
When it was first built, Scarborough spent four years carrying wood from places like the Baltic Sea and North America. In 1783, it first appeared in Lloyd's Register, which is like a record book for ships.
In 1787, a shipbroker named William Richards hired Scarborough for the First Fleet voyage. He chose it after talking with officers from the Royal Marines. Scarborough was the second-largest transport ship chosen for this important trip.
The ship then went to Deptford dockyard to be prepared. Workers made the space between the decks taller, about 6 feet 2 inches. They also added special "windsails" to help fresh air flow into the areas where people would stay. Walls were put in to separate the areas for the people being transported, the marines, and the crew. There was also a space for supplies and a sick bay for anyone who got ill.
The ship's crew for these long voyages was about 35 people. This included the captain, three mates, a boatswain, and a ship's doctor.
First Trip to Australia
Scarborough's first big trip was with the First Fleet. Its captain was John Marshall, and the doctor was Dennis Considen. The ship left Portsmouth on May 13, 1787. It carried 208 men who were being sent to the new colony. It also had officers and 34 soldiers from the New South Wales Marine Corps.
During the journey, Captain Marshall thought some of the men were planning a mutiny (a rebellion). He moved two suspected leaders to another ship, where they were punished. Scarborough finally arrived at Port Jackson, which is now Sydney, Australia, on January 26, 1788.
After dropping off its passengers, Scarborough left Port Jackson on May 6, 1788, with another ship called Charlotte. They sailed to China. On the way, they stopped at Lord Howe Island for food. They also became the first European ships to sail through the Marshall and Gilbert islands.
Further north, they landed on Tinian island. The long journey had used up most of Scarborough's supplies, and many of the crew were sick with scurvy. Fifteen of the sickest men were taken ashore to recover. While anchored, strong winds almost blew both ships onto the shore. But the captains quickly cut their anchor ropes and raised sails to move to safety.
After several weeks, the crew was healthy enough to continue. Scarborough and Charlotte reached Macau on September 9 and then Whampoa in China. There, the East India Company hired them to carry tea back to England. They left China on December 17 and arrived in England on June 15, 1789.
Second Trip to Australia
Scarborough made another trip to New South Wales with the Second Fleet. This fleet was known for the difficult conditions on board. Scarborough sailed from England on January 19, 1790, with 253 men. John Marshall was again the captain, and Augustus Jacob Beyer was the doctor.
On February 18, some of the men planned another mutiny. But one of them told the ship's officers about the plan. The plotters were questioned, and some were severely whipped. Others were chained to the deck.
Scarborough arrived at the Cape of Good Hope on April 13, 1790. It stayed there for 16 days to get more supplies. It also picked up eight men from another ship that had been wrecked. Scarborough arrived at Port Jackson on June 28, 160 days after leaving England. Sadly, 68 men died during this voyage, and 96 were sick when they arrived. After landing, 124 more people who had arrived on the ship died from illness.
Scarborough returned to England in 1792, again by way of China.
Later Journeys and a Battle
After its long trips to Australia, Scarborough needed many repairs. In 1792, its hull was repaired to fix damage from shipworms. It then carried goods between London and St. Petersburg. More repairs were done in 1795 and 1798. From 1800 to 1801, under Captain J. Scott, it traveled between London and the Caribbean, carrying trade goods.
In 1800, the East India Company hired Scarborough again to bring rice from Bengal. Captain Scott sailed from Falmouth on January 25, 1801, for Bengal. The ship arrived in Calcutta on June 19. It left on August 21 and arrived back in England on April 8, 1802.
In 1802, Scarborough was sold to a foreign buyer, and its registration was canceled. But in 1803, its former owners bought it back to use it for trade with the West Indies. Captain John Scott received a "letter of marque" on December 15, 1803. This letter allowed him to attack enemy ships during wartime. For the next two years, the ship sailed between London and Tobago.
Fighting a French Privateer
In December 1804, Scarborough, now under Captain James Scott, was part of a group of ships sailing to the West Indies. On January 26, 1805, they met a French privateer. A privateer was a private ship that was allowed by its government to attack enemy merchant ships. This French ship had 16 guns and nearly 200 men, which was much more powerful than Scarborough.
To prepare for battle, Captain Scott asked for help from the other two British ships with him. Seven men came from one ship and five from another, giving Scarborough a total of 27 men and boys. At 4 p.m., the battle began and lasted about an hour. Scarborough managed to fight off the privateer! Sadly, one man on Scarborough was killed, and the first officer was badly wounded. Captain Scott believed the French privateer had many more casualties. The three British ships reached Barbados the next day.
The End of Scarborough
In April 1805, while at sea, Scarborough began leaking very badly. It sank off Port Royal, Jamaica.
Legacy
In 1986, a ferry in Australia was named after Scarborough. This was to remember its important role in the First Fleet.
See also
- First Fleet
- Journals of the First Fleet
- List of convicts on the First Fleet
