Surprize (1780 ship) facts for kids
Justinian and Surprize standing into Sydney Bay, Norfolk Island, 23 August 1790; William Bradley
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| History | |
|---|---|
 Great Britain |
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| Name | Surprize |
| Owner | Calvert & Co. |
| Builder | Shoreham |
| Launched | 1780 |
| Captured | 1799 in the Bay of Bengal |
| General characteristics | |
| Tons burthen | 394, or 402 (bm) |
| Length |
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| Beam | 29 ft 5 in (9.0 m) |
| Depth of hold | 13 ft 3 in (4.0 m) |
| Complement | 24 |
| Armament |
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The Surprize was a large merchant ship launched in 1780. It had three decks and was known for its five long journeys as a "packet ship." These journeys were under a special agreement with the British East India Company (EIC).
One of its most famous trips was as part of the Second Fleet. On this voyage, it carried convicts to Port Jackson in Australia. Later, the Surprize was captured by a French warship in 1799. This happened in the Bay of Bengal.
Contents
Early Journeys for the East India Company
The Surprize made several trips for the East India Company. These voyages helped connect Britain with places like India.
First and Second Voyages
In 1783, Captain David Asquith commanded the Surprize. It sailed from Bengal and arrived in Britain later that year. Captain Asquith also led the ship on its second EIC voyage. It left Britain in 1784 and reached Calcutta (now Kolkata) in India. The ship brought "useful as well as curious" items back to Britain in 1785.
Third Voyage
Captain Asquith set sail again in 1785. This time, the Surprize was heading to Madras and Bengal. The plan was for the ship to stay in that region for a while.
The Second Fleet Journey (1790-1791)
The Surprize was back in Britain by 1789 for repairs. It was then chosen to be part of the Second Fleet. This fleet was tasked with transporting convicts to Botany Bay in Australia.
Setting Sail for Australia
On January 19, 1790, the Surprize left England. It sailed with two other ships, the Neptune and the Scarborough. The Surprize carried 254 male convicts. Its captain was Nicholas Anstis, and the ship's doctor was William Waters.
Tough Conditions at Sea
The Surprize was the smallest ship in the fleet. It was not very suitable for such a long journey. The ship was often wet, even in calm weather. During storms, the convicts were sometimes standing in water up to their waists. This made the journey very difficult for everyone on board.
Arrival in Australia
The ship stopped at the Cape of Good Hope for supplies. It finally reached Port Jackson (near modern-day Sydney) on June 26, 1790. The voyage had taken 158 days from England. Sadly, 36 convicts died during the trip. Many others were sick when they arrived.
Journey to China
After Port Jackson, the Surprize sailed to Norfolk Island. Then, it continued its journey to Canton (now Guangzhou) in China. There, it loaded tea for the East India Company. This tea was for the return trip to Britain. On the way, Captain Anstis spotted and named Montague Island.
The Surprize left China in February 1791. It arrived back in Britain in September of that year.
Later Voyages and Capture
After its journey to Australia and China, the Surprize continued to sail.
Transporting People Across the Ocean
Between 1791 and 1793, the Surprize made two voyages where it transported a large number of people from the Gold Coast of Africa to Kingston, Jamaica. These people were forced to travel under difficult conditions. On its second such voyage, the ship carried 518 people.
Second Convict Journey (1794-1796)
In 1794, Captain Patrick Campbell took command of the Surprize. It left England on May 2, carrying 33 male and 58 female convicts. It also had soldiers from the New South Wales Corps as guards. Among the passengers were four Scottish Martyrs, who were political prisoners.
The Surprize sailed with a group of other ships, including some East Indiamen. They were protected by a British warship, HMS Suffolk. During the voyage, a plot was discovered among some of the guards. Captain Campbell quickly put a stop to it.
The ship arrived at Rio de Janeiro in July. After getting fresh water, it continued its journey. The Surprize reached Port Jackson on October 25.
Final East India Company Voyage
After dropping off the convicts, Captain Campbell sailed the Surprize to Bengal. It left Calcutta in November 1795. The ship made its way back to Britain, arriving in May 1796.
Capture of the Ship
The Surprize continued to sail for Calvert & Co. in the London-India trade. However, in 1799, its journey came to an end. A French warship named French frigate Forte captured the Surprize in the Bay of Bengal. Several other East Indiamen ships were also captured at the same time.
