Phoenix (1790 Indiaman)

For other ships of the same name, see Phoenix (East Indiaman).
Career (United Kingdom)
Name: Phoenix
Namesake: Phoenix
Launched: 1790, Thames[1]
Fate: No longer listed after 1812
General characteristics [2]
Tons burthen:573,[1][3] or 592[2] (bm)
Length:127 ft 8 in (38.9 m) (overall);
103 ft 0 3⁄8 in (31.4 m) (keel)
Beam:31 ft 10 1⁄2 in (9.7 m)
Depth of hold:12 ft 4 in (3.8 m)
Crew:60-70[3]
Armament:1793: 20 x 9-pounder guns[3]

1795: 16 x 9-pounder guns[3]
1796: 20 x 9-pounder guns[3] 1799:20 x 24, 12, and 6-pounder guns[3]
1799:2 x 12-pounder + 6 x 6-pounder guns + 12 x 24-pounder carronades[1]

1805: 8 x 12-pounder "new cannons"[4]

Phoenix was a three-decker merchant ship, launched on the Thames in 1790. She made one voyage as an extra ship (i.e., on short-term charter), for the British East India Company (EIC). Before that she had several masters and sailed under letters of marque. These authorized the vessel's master to engage in offensive action against the French, should the occasion arise, not just defend herself. After the voyage for the EIC Phoenix apparently traded as a West Indiaman until at least 1812.

Early mentions

A Phoenix, of 573 tons (bm) received three letters of marque during the French Revolutionary Wars, but before she performed her voyage for the EIC.[3] These authorized the vessel's master to engage in offensive action against the French, should the occasion arise, not just defend herself.

Lloyd's Register for 1799 gives the name of Phoenix '​s master as "J. Tyrie", her owner as "Glennie"", and her trade as London-Jamaica.[1]

East India Company

For her voyage for the EIC, Captain John Tyrie applied for a letter of marque, which he received on 31 July 1798.[Note 1] He left Falmouth on 14 September 1798, bound for Madras and Bengal.

Phoenix was part of a large convoy of merchantmen and transports, all under the escort of HMS Argo, HMS Pomone, and HMS Cormorant. The convoy included three other East Indiamen: Royal Charlotte, Cuffnells, and Alligator. On 25 September the convoy encountered a French fleet of nine sail, consisting of one eighty-gun ship and eight frigates. The convoy commander signaled the East Indiamen to form line of battle with the Royal Navy ships, and the convoy to push for Lisbon. This manoeuvre, and the warlike appearance of the Indiamen, deterred the French admiral from attacking them.[5][6]

The whole fleet reached Lisbon in safety. Phoenix reached Lisbon on 28 September and the Cape on 31 December, and arrived at Madras on 13 April 1799. She reached Calcutta on 20 May.[2] Before leaving on the homeward-bound leg of her voyage, she loaded chests of arms that had been sent to the East India Company, but on arrival had been found defective, some due to damage by salt water due to "boistrous Weather", and that the company was returning to England.[7]

On her homeward voyage she passed Kedgeree on 22 October and reached St Helena on 27 January 1800. She arrived at the Downs on 21 May.[2]

Subsequent service

Lloyd's Register carries Phoenix from 1800 to 1812. Through this entire period she sailed as a West Indiaman, trading between London and Jamaica, and then London and Tobago.

Year Master Owner Trade Notes
1800 J.Tyrie/J. Shaw Glennie London - Jamaica
1801 J. Shaw/J. Baird Glennie London - Jamaica
1802 J. Baird Robly & Co. London - Tobago No longer armed
1803 J. Baird Robly & Co. London - Tobago
1804 J. Baird Robly & Co. London - Tobago
1805 J. Baird Robly & Co. London - Tobago 8 x 12-pounder "new cannons"
1806 J. Baird Robly & Co. London - Tobago Ditto
1807 J. Baird Robly & Co. London - Tobago Ditto
1808 J. Baird Robly & Co. London - Tobago Ditto
1809 J. Baird Robly & Co. London - Tobago Ditto
1810 J. Baird Robly & Co. London - Tobago Ditto
1811 J. Baird Robly & Co. London - Tobago Ditto
1812 J. Baird Robly & Co. London - Tobago Ditto

Notes, citations and references

Notes
  1. ↑ James Tyrie received a letter of marque on 28 July 1798. John '​s letter, for a vessel of the same name and tonnage, was dated three days later, suggesting rectification of an error.[3]
Citations
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Lloyd's Review, (1799)
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 National Archives: Phoenix (4) accessed 6 December 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 "Register of Letters of Marque against France 1793-1815"; p.81
  4. ↑ Lloyd's Review (1805).
  5. ↑ "List of factory records of the late East India Company: preserved in the Record Department of the India Office, London (1896) - accessed 6 December 2014.
  6. ↑ Lindsay (1874), Vol. 2, App. 11, p.581.
  7. ↑ Fort William-India House Correspondence and Other Contemporary Papers Relating Thereto, Volume 21 (1799-1800), p.389.
References