Warley (1796 ship) facts for kids
.jpg) The East Indiaman 'Warley', Robert Salmon, 1801, National Maritime Museum
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Quick facts for kids History |
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.svg){kind=small} East India CompanyGreat Britain |
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| Name | Warley |
| Owner |
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| Builder | Perry & Co., Blackwall |
| Launched | 15 November 1796 |
| Fate | Broken up 1816 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | East Indiaman |
| Tons burthen | 1460, or 1498, or 147060⁄94 (bm) |
| Length | 176 ft 5 in (53.8 m) (overall); 143 ft 5+5⁄8 in (43.7 m) (keel) |
| Beam | 43 ft 9 in (13.3 m) |
| Depth of hold | 17 ft 6+1⁄2 in (5.3 m) |
| Complement |
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| Armament |
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The Warley was a large sailing ship launched in 1796. She was one of the famous "East Indiamen" ships. These ships belonged to the East India Company (EIC). The EIC was a powerful British company. It traded goods between Britain and places like India and China.
Warley made nine long trips to the East between 1796 and 1816. Most of her journeys went directly to China. In 1804, she even took part in a sea battle called the Battle of Pulo Aura. In 1816, the company sold her. She was then taken apart for her materials.
Contents
Building the Warley
The Warley was built by a company called Perry & Co. at Blackwall Yard in England. She was actually the second ship named Warley built by them for the East India Company. The first Warley was built in 1788. The Royal Navy bought that first ship in 1795. They renamed her HMS Calcutta.
The captain for Warley's first five voyages was Henry Wilson. He had also been the captain of the first Warley before this ship.
Early Journeys (1797–1802)
Warley made her first three voyages under Captain Henry Wilson. These were long and important trips for trade.
First Voyage (1797–1798)
Captain Wilson set sail from Portsmouth, England, on March 18, 1797. Warley was heading to Bombay (India) and then to China. She arrived in Bombay in July. After some time, she sailed to various ports in India. Then, she reached Whampoa in China in January 1798. On her way back, she stopped at St Helena. She finally arrived back in England in October 1798.
Second Voyage (1799–1800)
Captain Wilson started Warley's second journey on June 18, 1799. This trip was also to China. She reached Penang (Malaysia) by October. Then, she arrived in Whampoa, China, in January 1800. The ship returned to England in September 1800.
Third Voyage (1801–1802)
The third voyage, also to China, began on May 19, 1801. Warley sailed to Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) and Penang. She arrived in Whampoa in January 1802. On her return, she stopped at St Helena. She reached England in September 1802. After this trip, Warley needed a lot of repairs. She had problems with leaks during her journey home.
The Battle of Pulo Aura (1804)
This was Warley's most famous moment. The Napoleonic Wars had started. This meant Britain was at war with France. Captain Wilson got a special permission called a "letter of marque." This allowed his merchant ship to carry guns and act like a warship if needed.
Warley left Britain for China in May 1803. She arrived in Whampoa in November. On her way back from China, Warley was part of a group of East Indiamen. Captain Wilson was second in command to Nathaniel Dance. Dance was leading the whole group of ships.
As they sailed through the Straits of Malacca, they met a French warship group. The French admiral, Comte de Linois, wanted to capture the valuable East Indiamen.
Captain Dance ordered his ships to line up as if they were warships. He made it look like four of his merchant ships were powerful navy ships. This was a clever trick! A small fight happened. The French admiral, for some reason, decided to leave. He thought he was facing a strong British navy fleet.
Warley reached Penang in March and St Helena in June. She arrived back in England in August 1804. Warley played a big part in this victory. Captain Wilson received 500 guineas and a special plate as a reward. All the other captains and their crews also got awards. Captain Dance was even knighted for his bravery.
Later Journeys (1805–1816)
Warley continued her long voyages to the East.
Fifth Voyage (1805–1806)
Captain Henry Wilson again commanded this voyage. He sailed from Portsmouth in April 1805. The ship went to Madras (India) and China. She reached Madras in August and arrived in Whampoa, China, in January 1806. On her way back, she stopped at St Helena. She returned to England in September 1806.
Sixth Voyage (1807–1809)
For this journey, Captain William Augustus Montague took command. He left Portsmouth in June 1807. The ship was bound for Madras, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), Bombay, and China. Warley carried soldiers from the 47th Regiment of Foot. She reached Madras in December 1807 and Colombo in January 1808. She then went to various ports in India before reaching Whampoa, China, in July 1808. She returned to England in December 1809.
Seventh Voyage (1811–1812)
Captain John Collins became the new commander. He left Portsmouth in April 1811. The ship sailed to China, stopping at Simons Bay (South Africa) and Penang. She arrived in Whampoa in October 2011. She returned to England in May 1812, after stopping at St Helena.
Eighth Voyage (1813–1814)
Captain Collins again sailed from Portsmouth in March 1813. This time, Warley had a "letter of marque" against America. This was because Britain was also at war with America. The ship went to Madras and China. She arrived in Whampoa in October 1813. On her return, she stopped at St Helena. She was back in England by August 1814.
Ninth Voyage (1815–1816)
This was Warley's final voyage. Captain Collins left England in April 1815. She reached Whampoa, China, in September. On her way back, she stopped at St Helena in March 1816. Warley arrived back in England in April 1816.
When Warley returned to London, her crew left the ship. This included Chinese sailors who had been hired in China. Other ships helped these Chinese sailors return home.
What Happened to Warley?
Warley was sold on July 26, 1816. She was bought to be "broken up." This means she was taken apart. Her wood and other materials could then be reused.
Famous People on Board
Some interesting people traveled on the Warley:
- Professor James Inman was a smart teacher. He was the first director of the Royal Naval Academy in Portsmouth. He traveled on the Warley and was on board during the Battle of Pulo Aura. He even helped by leading a group of sailors armed with long spears!
- The artist Clarkson Frederick Stanfield also sailed on the Warley. He joined as a sailor in 1815 for a trip to China. He made many sketches during the journey. These drawings later helped him create his famous paintings of ships and the sea.
Images for kids
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The East Indiaman 'Warley', Robert Salmon, 1801, National Maritime Museum
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Defeat of Adml. Linois by Commodore Dance, Feby. 15th. 1804, by William Daniel
