Lord Nelson

Lord Nelson was a British East Indiaman, a large merchant vessel operating under charter or ownership connected with the English East India Company during the Napoleonic period. Launched in late 1799, the ship carried cargo and passengers between Britain, India, and China, while also receiving authorization to defend herself as an armed merchantman. Her name commemorated Horatio Nelson, the celebrated Royal Navy admiral who had recently become a national hero. The ship completed four of five recorded voyages. Her first voyage began in March 1800 under Captain Robert Spottiswoode and took her to Madras, Penang, Malacca, and the Pearl River area of China before her return to Britain in June 1801. A letter of marque issued in February 1800 permitted her to carry arms and engage enemy vessels where necessary. Her second voyage began in March 1802 and ended dramatically during the return passage in August 1803, when the French privateer Bellone captured her off Cape Clear, Ireland. The engagement lasted about ninety minutes. Lord Nelson resisted an initial boarding attempt but was eventually taken after suffering five deaths and 31 wounded. Bellone placed a prize crew aboard and attempted to carry the vessel toward Spain. The capture did not last. On 26 August 1803, the British sloop Seagull pursued and fought Lord Nelson through the night. Seagull was badly damaged and temporarily withdrew for repairs, but a squadron commanded by Sir Edward Pellew subsequently arrived. Lord Nelson surrendered to HMS Colossus after her ammunition had been exhausted. She was escorted to Plymouth and reached port in September. The East India Company and Lloyd's Underwriters agreed to a salvage payment equivalent to one-sixth of the ship's value, shared among the vessels involved in the recapture. Spottiswoode received a ceremonial sword and a service of plate in recognition of the ship's defense. The episode later supplied the central maritime incident for a chapter of Patrick O'Brian's novel Post Captain, although O'Brian added fictional characters and events. Lord Nelson undertook a third voyage from 1804 to 1805 under Captain Wemyss Orrok, traveling with an escorted convoy to Madras, Bengal, and other Indian destinations. Orrok died at St Helena during the return passage, and the first lieutenant, Frederick Gaillard, probably completed the voyage. Captain William Charles Hutton commanded the fourth voyage, which ran from 1806 to 1807 and included calls at St Helena, the Cape of Good Hope, Bengal, Madras, Bombay, and Tellichery. Hutton remained in command for the fifth voyage, which began in March 1808. After reaching Madras, the ship was affected by a major manpower shortage when naval authorities impressed many sailors from the East Indiamen gathered there. Lord Nelson's crew was supplemented with locally recruited lascars and sailed with approximately 110 men, excluding passengers. The convoy departed Madras in October, but a gale dispersed the ships in November. Lord Nelson separated from the convoy on or about 21 November 1808 in the Indian Ocean and was never heard from again. The vessel, cargo, and everyone aboard were presumed lost. The East India Company valued the ship's cargo at £57,091 and the total loss of vessel and cargo at £117,820, according to contemporary valuation reported in the reference material.

Lord Nelson was launched in late 1799 for service as an East Indiaman, a class of large merchant vessel used in the long-distance trade between Britain and Asia. The ship sailed under the commercial framework of the East India Company but carried substantial armament because wartime merchant ships faced privateers and other hostile vessels. A letter of marque dated 14 February 1800 authorized her defensive and prize-taking capacity. Her first voyage, commanded by Robert Spottiswoode, began on 17 March 1800. She reached Madras in July, then continued to Penang, Malacca, and the Whampoa and Second Bar anchorages near Canton before returning by way of St Helena. She reached the Downs in June 1801. Spottiswoode also commanded the ship's second voyage, which began in March 1802. During the return passage on 14 August 1803, Lord Nelson met the French privateer Bellone off Cape Clear. Bellone had the larger crew and captured the East Indiaman after a prolonged action. Five people aboard Lord Nelson were killed and 31 wounded. A French prize crew then attempted to take the vessel toward A Coruña. British forces recovered the ship less than two weeks later. Seagull, commanded by Captain Henry Burke, located Lord Nelson after receiving information about a French privateer in the area. The two ships fought through the night on 26–27 August. Seagull sustained serious damage and temporarily withdrew, but the arrival of Sir Edward Pellew's squadron changed the balance. Lord Nelson surrendered to HMS Colossus after her ammunition was spent. She reached Plymouth under escort on 14 September. The East India Company rewarded Spottiswoode with a sword and plate, while the participating British vessels received a salvage award. Spottiswoode subsequently retired from command and died in 1805. For the third voyage, beginning in March 1804, command passed to Wemyss Orrok. The ship traveled with a convoy of East Indiamen escorted by HMS Lapwing and visited Madras, Diamond Harbour, Saugor, and St Helena. Orrok died at St Helena during the return journey; Frederick Gaillard probably assumed command for the remainder of the voyage. Lord Nelson returned to Britain in September 1805. William Charles Hutton commanded the fourth voyage, which departed in March 1806 in a convoy escorted by HMS Leopard. The itinerary included St Helena, the Cape of Good Hope, Bengal, Madras, Bombay, Tellichery, and a return to the Downs in September 1807. Hutton continued as captain for the fifth voyage, which departed Britain in March 1808 for Madras and Bengal. The final voyage was affected by the Royal Navy's need for manpower. At Madras in August 1808, Rear Admiral Edward Pellew ordered the impressment of sailors from the East Indiamen. Although some men were returned after protests from the captains, Lord Nelson remained short-handed and recruited local lascars. The ship sailed from Madras in a convoy in October. A gale dispersed the convoy in November, and Lord Nelson parted company on 21 November near 8°30′ south latitude and 80° east longitude. She disappeared with all aboard, including passengers, and was presumed lost. Contemporary East India Company assessments placed the value of her cargo at £57,091 and the combined value of vessel and cargo at £117,820. The maritime episode later entered popular historical fiction through its adaptation in Patrick O'Brian's Post Captain.

• 1808

  Lost at sea

  [1]Lord Nelson (1799 ship)en.wikipedia.org

  The ship disappeared after a gale dispersed her convoy in the Indian Ocean during her fifth voyage.

• 1807

  Fourth voyage completed

  [1]Lord Nelson (1799 ship)en.wikipedia.org

  Hutton brought Lord Nelson back to the Downs after a voyage through the Cape route, Bengal, Madras, Bombay, and related ports.

• 1805

  Third voyage completed

  [1]Lord Nelson (1799 ship)en.wikipedia.org

  After Orrok's death at St Helena, the ship probably completed the return under first lieutenant Frederick Gaillard.

• 1803

  Captured and recaptured

  [1]Lord Nelson (1799 ship)en.wikipedia.org

  Bellone captured Lord Nelson on 14 August; British forces recaptured her on 26 August and brought her to Plymouth in September.

• 1800

  First voyage begins

  [1]Lord Nelson (1799 ship)en.wikipedia.org

  Under Robert Spottiswoode, the ship sailed from Britain to Madras, Penang, Malacca, and China before returning in 1801.

• 1799

  Launched as an East Indiaman

  [1]Lord Nelson (1799 ship)en.wikipedia.org

  Lord Nelson was launched in late 1799 for long-distance commercial service associated with the East India Company.

A long-distance British East Indiaman combining commercial cargo and passenger transport with the defensive armament expected of merchant shipping during wartime.

• East Indiaman · 1799

  Lord Nelson

  The vessel itself was a large armed merchant ship used for East India Company trade. It carried cargo and passengers between Britain and Asian ports, while its guns and letters of marque provided protection during wartime voyages. Its documented routes included India, Bengal, Madras, Bombay, the Cape of Good Hope, St Helena, Penang, Malacca, and China.

• 1808

  Crew replacement after naval impressmentStrategy

  Background

  Royal Navy impressment at Madras removed many sailors from the East Indiamen preparing to return to Britain.

  Action taken

  Captain Hutton recruited local lascars to supplement the reduced crew of Lord Nelson.

  Aftermath

  The ship joined the convoy but disappeared after the convoy was dispersed by a gale in November.

  Source

• 1800

  Armed merchant operation under a letter of marqueStrategy

  Background

  Wartime trade routes exposed East Indiamen to French privateers and other hostile vessels.

  Action taken

  A letter of marque dated 14 February 1800 authorized Lord Nelson to operate as an armed commercial vessel.

  Aftermath

  The ship subsequently fought Bellone during its second voyage and defended itself during the capture and recapture episode.

  Source

1. 1Lord Nelson (1799 ship)en.wikipedia.org