Cecilia
Cecilia was an East India-built merchant ship launched in 1790 and later employed in British East India Company service before being wrecked at Madeira in 1804.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Cecilia, also recorded as Cæcilia, was an ocean-going merchant vessel launched in 1790. Historical references differ over her construction location, identifying Pegu, Surat, Bombay, Calcutta, or Calcutta as the place of build. The ship entered the records of British maritime commerce during the late eighteenth century, when vessels built in India were increasingly used in long-distance trade and government transport connected with the British East India Company. Cecilia first appears in Lloyd's Register in 1797, with E. H. Palmer identified as master, Lambert as owner, Calcutta as the place of build, and London–India as the vessel's trade. She was admitted to the Registry of Great Britain on 17 February 1797. Before and around that registration, the ship had already undertaken a voyage under charter to the East India Company. Her first recorded Company voyage began with her at Calcutta on 18 February 1796 under Captain E. H. Palmer. The route took her to Saugor, St Augustine's Bay, the Cape of Good Hope, St Helena, Crookhaven, and ultimately Long Reach, where she arrived on 16 December 1796. Cecilia's work was not limited to commercial cargo carriage. In 1800, she was associated with government transport activity supporting British military operations. HMS Harpy reached Portsmouth on 26 May 1800 before escorting Cecilia to a specified latitude, after which Cecilia was to continue to Bengal. The government also engaged the vessel to support General Sir David Baird's expedition to the Red Sea, an operation connected with the wider British effort to assist General Sir Ralph Abercrombie during the campaign culminating in the Battle of Alexandria. By 1800, Thomas Thomas was recorded as Cecilia's master, and the vessel's trade was described as London-based transport. The New Oriental Register and East India Directory for 1802 listed Lambert, Ross, & Co. as owner and Captain Thomas Thomas as master. Cecilia then made another East India Company voyage. Thomas departed Calcutta on 28 November 1802, passed Saugor on 28 January 1803, reached St Helena on 15 April, and arrived at Deptford on 9 June 1803. The ship's career ended on a subsequent voyage to Bengal. Cecilia sailed on 5 December 1803 under Captain Carrol, but encountered a gale at Madeira on 9 January 1804. She dragged her anchors and became wedged between two rocks. Her mainmast fell toward the landward side and served temporarily as a bridge, allowing passengers and crew to move from the wreck. During the following night, however, the sea destroyed the vessel completely. The third and fourth officers drowned. No evidence in the supplied sources indicates that Cecilia continued operating after the wreck, and the vessel is therefore treated as defunct rather than as an ongoing commercial brand.
History
Cecilia was launched in 1790 and was probably an East India-built merchant ship, although the surviving references do not agree on her exact construction site. Pegu, Surat, Bombay, and Calcutta have all been associated with the vessel; Lloyd's Register later identified Calcutta as her place of build. The uncertainty reflects the incomplete nature of surviving records for eighteenth-century ships rather than evidence of multiple vessels with the same name. The ship entered British commercial records through long-distance service between Britain and India. Cecilia sailed under charter to the British East India Company and made a recorded voyage in 1796 under Captain E. H. Palmer. She was at Calcutta on 18 February, Saugor on 5 March, St Augustine's Bay on 20 June, the Cape of Good Hope on 31 August, and St Helena on 17 September. After continuing through the Atlantic, she reached Crookhaven on 26 November and Long Reach on 16 December. Cecilia first appeared in Lloyd's Register in 1797. The entry gave Palmer as master, Lambert as owner, Calcutta as place of build, and London–India as trade. She was admitted to the Registry of Great Britain on 17 February of that year. These records place her within the regulated British merchant fleet even though her construction in India distinguished her from ships built in Britain. Around 1800, Cecilia's master was Thomas Thomas, and her role was described as London-based transport. Her activities also intersected with British military logistics. HMS Harpy arrived at Portsmouth on 26 May 1800 before escorting Cecilia to a designated latitude, after which Cecilia was expected to proceed to Bengal. The government separately hired her to support General Sir David Baird's expedition to the Red Sea. That expedition formed part of the British effort to reinforce General Sir Ralph Abercrombie during the campaign against French forces in Egypt, including the events surrounding the Battle of Alexandria. The New Oriental Register and East India Directory for 1802 listed Lambert, Ross, & Co. as Cecilia's owner and Thomas Thomas as master. Her second recorded East India Company voyage began when she left Calcutta on 28 November 1802. She passed Saugor on 28 January 1803, reached St Helena on 15 April, and arrived at Deptford on 9 June. Cecilia departed again on 5 December 1803, this time bound for Bengal under Captain Carrol. On 9 January 1804, a gale at Madeira caused the ship to drag her anchors and become wedged between two rocks. Her mainmast fell on the landward side and provided a makeshift bridge for passengers and crew. The sea destroyed the wreck during the following night. The third and fourth officers drowned. This ended Cecilia's documented career after roughly fourteen years of service.
- 1804
Wrecked at Madeira
[1]A gale wrecks Cecilia on 9 January. The ship is destroyed during the following night and two officers drown.
- 1803
Second recorded East India Company voyage completed
[1]Cecilia arrives at Deptford on 9 June after sailing from Calcutta under Thomas Thomas.
- 1800
Government transport service
[1]The ship is used in British government transport operations connected with the Red Sea expedition and a voyage toward Bengal.
- 1797
British registry entry
[1]Cecilia appears in Lloyd's Register and is admitted to the Registry of Great Britain on 17 February.
- 1796
First recorded East India Company voyage
[1]Under E. H. Palmer, Cecilia sails from Calcutta through Saugor, the Cape of Good Hope, St Helena, and the Atlantic route to Long Reach.
- 1790
Cecilia is launched
[1]Cecilia, also known as Cæcilia, is launched. The precise construction location is uncertain, with historical references naming several South Asian ports.
Products and positioning
A late-eighteenth-century East India-built merchant vessel used for long-distance trade and government transport within the British imperial maritime system.
Maritime transport · 1790
Merchant and East India Company transport
Cecilia's principal documented function was long-distance merchant transport between India and Britain. Her recorded routes connected Calcutta and Saugor with the Cape of Good Hope, St Helena, and British ports including Deptford and Long Reach. The vessel operated under charter to the East India Company and was listed with London–India trade.
Government transport · 1800
Government and military transport
The British government also employed Cecilia for transport connected with military logistics. In 1800 she was associated with General Sir David Baird's Red Sea expedition, an operation linked to Britain's campaign in Egypt. HMS Harpy escorted her to a specified latitude before Cecilia continued toward Bengal.
Recent events
- 1804
Cecilia is wrecked at Madeira[1]
Other
A gale on 9 January 1804 drove Cecilia onto rocks at Madeira. The vessel was subsequently destroyed by the sea, and two officers drowned.
- 1803
Cecilia completes a second recorded East India Company voyage[1]
Other
Commanded by Captain Thomas Thomas, Cecilia left Calcutta in late 1802 and arrived at Deptford on 9 June 1803.
- 1800
Cecilia supports British government transport operations[1]
Other
The government engaged Cecilia as a transport associated with General Sir David Baird's Red Sea expedition, while HMS Harpy escorted her part of the way toward Bengal.
- 1797
Cecilia is admitted to the Registry of Great Britain[1]
Other
The vessel entered the British registry on 17 February 1797 and appeared in Lloyd's Register with Calcutta identified as her place of build.
- 1796
Cecilia completes her first recorded East India Company voyage[1]
Other
Under Captain E. H. Palmer, Cecilia sailed from Calcutta through the Indian Ocean and Atlantic route, reaching Long Reach on 16 December 1796.
Sources1 sources
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