Anna
Anna, often distinguished as Bengal Anna, was a ship launched at Calcutta in 1793 that completed three voyages associated with the British East India Company before being lost off Chittagong around 1811.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Anna was an India-built vessel launched at Calcutta in 1793. Because another ship carried the same name, contemporary records often distinguished this vessel as Bengal Anna, contrasting it with Bombay Anna. The surviving account places Anna within the maritime system connecting British India, Great Britain, China, the Cape of Good Hope, St Helena, Mauritius, Southeast Asia, and military theaters linked to the British Empire. The ship made three voyages associated with the British East India Company. Its first documented voyage was commanded by Captain Mungo Gilmore, who sailed from Calcutta on 23 December and reached Deptford on 18 August 1795 after calling at Saugor, the Cape of Good Hope, and St Helena. Gilmore obtained a letter of marque in December 1795, giving the vessel authorization to act against enemy shipping under wartime conditions. Anna was admitted to the Registry of Great Britain in September 1796 and appeared in Lloyd's List the following year with Gilmour as master and Farlie & Co. as owner. The ship also took part in movements connected with British military logistics. In July 1797, Bengal Anna, Bombay Anna, and Coromandel arrived at Portsmouth carrying invalids and prisoners from the West Indies. The vessels may have been connected with Admiral Sir Hugh Cloberry Christian's West Indies expedition, although the available account does not place them on the principal departure list for that expedition. Anna later reached England from China in August 1799. During another voyage, Captain Patrick Clark sailed from Calcutta in July 1800, and the ship reached Long Reach in April 1801 after calling at Saugor and St Helena. In November 1802, Lloyd's List reported that Anna, then under Captain Scott, had put into Île de France, now Mauritius, in distress. Captain Thomas Scott commanded the vessel on a subsequent voyage from Kedgeree in February 1804. Anna traveled with several other ships, reached St Helena in September, and arrived at Deptford in December. Scott obtained a letter of marque in March 1805. In 1810, Anna carried Charles Andrew Bruce to Prince of Wales Island, present-day Penang, where he was to assume the governorship. Later that year, the ship served as a transport during the British invasion and capture of Île de France. After the Mauritius campaign, the British government chartered Anna and eight other vessels as cartels to carry captured French troops back to France. Anna was subsequently lost on the coast of Chittagong while returning from Mauritius. The vessel was still listed in the Register of Shipping in 1812, but the available account does not provide a more precise date or detailed circumstances for the loss. Anna is therefore documented primarily as an India-built merchant and military transport vessel rather than as a consumer brand or commercial company.
History
Anna was launched at Calcutta in 1793 and operated within the maritime networks of British India and the East India Company. Since another vessel shared the name, the ship was frequently called Bengal Anna in order to distinguish it from Bombay Anna. The surviving record does not establish a complete technical profile, including the vessel's tonnage, dimensions, builder, or exact rig, but it documents a substantial career in commercial and imperial transport. Captain Mungo Gilmore commanded Anna on an early voyage from Calcutta beginning on 23 December. The ship reached Saugor in February 1795, the Cape of Good Hope in April, and St Helena in May before arriving at Deptford in August. Gilmore obtained a letter of marque in December 1795. Anna was admitted to the Registry of Great Britain in September 1796, and Lloyd's List recorded her in 1797 with Gilmour as master and Farlie & Co. as owner. In July 1797, Bengal Anna arrived at Portsmouth with Bombay Anna and Coromandel. The ships carried invalids and prisoners from the West Indies and had made a notably rapid passage of about a month. The account suggests that the vessels may have been involved in logistics associated with Admiral Sir Hugh Cloberry Christian's West Indies expedition, although they do not appear in the cited list of ships that departed on 24 January 1796. This uncertainty illustrates the limits of the surviving operational record. Anna returned to England from China in August 1799 under Gilmore. The voyage appears to have been undertaken at the request of the East India Company, although it is not included in the voyage list maintained by the British Library. In late 1799, Anna was at Madeira with Bombay Anna and Calcutta while taking on wine. In 1800, Captain Patrick Clark sailed from Calcutta for England. Anna called at Saugor and reached St Helena in January 1801 before arriving at Long Reach in April. The ship encountered difficulty during another period of service. Lloyd's List reported in November 1802 that Anna, then under Captain Scott, had put into Île de France, now Mauritius, in distress. Captain Thomas Scott later commanded a voyage from Kedgeree beginning in February 1804. Anna traveled with Mornington, Maria, Northampton, and Princess Mary, reached St Helena in September, and arrived at Deptford in December. Scott obtained a letter of marque in March 1805. Anna's later career was increasingly connected to British military and governmental activity. On 24 March 1810, the vessel delivered Charles Andrew Bruce to Prince of Wales Island, now Penang, for his assumption of the governorship. Bruce later died in office. Anna subsequently served as a transport during the British invasion of Île de France on 3 December 1810. After the campaign, the British government chartered Anna and eight other vessels as cartels to repatriate French troops captured during the operations. The vessel was lost on the coast of Chittagong while returning from Mauritius. It was last listed in the Register of Shipping in 1812. The available sources do not give a precise wreck date, casualty account, or final cargo details. Anna's documented identity is therefore that of a historical India-built ship with East India Company connections and military-transport duties, not a modern German food brand.
- 1811
Loss off Chittagong
[1]Anna was lost on the coast of Chittagong while returning from Mauritius.
- 1810
Military transport service in the Indian Ocean
[1]Anna carried a future governor to Prince of Wales Island and served in the British campaign against Île de France.
- 1797
Transport of invalids and prisoners
[1]Bengal Anna reached Portsmouth with invalids and prisoners from the West Indies.
- 1796
Registration in Great Britain
[1]Anna was admitted to the Registry of Great Britain.
- 1795
First documented voyage to Britain
[1]Under Captain Mungo Gilmore, Anna sailed from Calcutta through Saugor, the Cape of Good Hope, and St Helena to Deptford.
- 1795
Letter of marque issued
[1]Mungo Gilmore acquired a letter of marque for Anna.
- 1793
Launch at Calcutta
[1]Anna was launched at Calcutta and later became known as Bengal Anna to distinguish it from Bombay Anna.
Products and positioning
Commercial shipping · 1793
Merchant voyages
Anna undertook long-distance voyages linking Calcutta and other Bengal ports with Great Britain, China, the Cape of Good Hope, St Helena, and other Indian Ocean locations. These voyages formed the principal commercial activity documented for the vessel and were conducted within networks associated with the British East India Company.
Government and military logistics · 1810
Military transport
During the later part of its career, Anna transported people and military personnel. It carried Charles Andrew Bruce to Prince of Wales Island, supported the British invasion of Île de France, and was later chartered as a cartel to carry captured French troops back to France.
Marketing campaigns
- 1810British invasion of Île de France
Mauritius · Indian Ocean
Anna served as a transport during the British invasion of Île de France, now Mauritius, on 3 December 1810.
Outcome. After the campaign, Anna was among the vessels chartered to repatriate captured French troops.
- 1797West Indies transport activity
West Indies · Great Britain
Bengal Anna arrived at Portsmouth with invalids and prisoners from the West Indies. The ship may have been connected with Admiral Sir Hugh Cloberry Christian's expedition, although the available record does not definitively establish that assignment.
Outcome. The vessel completed the passage and arrived at Portsmouth.
Brand decisions
1805
Second recorded letter of marqueOtherBackground
Anna continued to operate in wartime maritime conditions under Captain Thomas Scott.
Action taken
Scott acquired a letter of marque for Anna in March 1805.
Aftermath
The vessel retained documented authorization for wartime operations; no specific armed engagement is identified in the available source.
1795
Obtaining a letter of marqueOtherBackground
The vessel operated during a period of conflict when merchant ships could receive legal authorization to act against enemy shipping.
Action taken
Captain Mungo Gilmore obtained a letter of marque for Anna in December 1795.
Aftermath
The authorization documented Anna's wartime status, although the available material does not describe any specific privateering action by the ship.
Recent events
- 1811
Anna was lost off the coast of Chittagong[1]
Other
Anna was lost on the coast of Chittagong while returning from Mauritius. The loss is dated approximately because the surviving account gives only circa 1811.
- 1810
Anna transported Charles Andrew Bruce to Prince of Wales Island[1]
Other
Anna delivered Charles Andrew Bruce to Prince of Wales Island, present-day Penang, so that he could assume the governorship.
- 1810
Anna participated in the British invasion of Île de France[1]
Other
Anna served as a transport vessel during the British invasion and capture of Île de France on 3 December.
- 1810
Anna was chartered as a cartel for captured French troops[1]
Other
Following the Mauritius campaign, the British government chartered Anna and eight other vessels to transport captured French troops back to France.
- 1805
Anna received a second recorded letter of marque[1]
Regulation
Captain Thomas Scott obtained a letter of marque for Anna in March.
- 1804
Anna completed a voyage from Bengal to Deptford[1]
Other
Under Captain Thomas Scott, Anna sailed from Kedgeree, called at Saugor and St Helena, and arrived at Deptford in December.
- 1802
Anna reported in distress at Île de France[1]
Other
Lloyd's List reported that Anna, under Captain Scott, had put into Île de France, now Mauritius, in distress.
- 1799
Anna returned to England from China[1]
Other
Anna, commanded by Mungo Gilmore, reached England from China in August after a voyage apparently undertaken at the behest of the East India Company.
- 1797
Bengal Anna arrived at Portsmouth with invalids and prisoners[1]
Other
Bengal Anna arrived at Portsmouth with Bombay Anna and Coromandel, carrying invalids and prisoners from the West Indies.
- 1796
Anna entered the Registry of Great Britain[1]
Regulation
Anna was admitted to the Registry of Great Britain, formalizing its registration within the British shipping system.
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