Regent
Regent was an East India Company extra ship launched at Calcutta in 1812 and lost near the Philippines in 1822.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Regent was an India-built sailing vessel that operated as an extra ship under charter to the British East India Company during the early nineteenth century. She was launched at Calcutta in 1812 and entered the long-distance commercial network linking British-controlled India, Southeast Asia, China, and Britain. Unlike the East India Company's regularly owned or listed ships, an extra ship was employed under a charter arrangement for particular voyages, allowing the Company to expand its carrying capacity without relying solely on its permanent fleet. Under Captain James Haig, Regent made her first recorded Company voyage in 1812–1813 from Calcutta to England. She sailed from Calcutta in June 1812, passed Saugor, and continued around the Cape of Good Hope to St Helena before reaching the Downs in May 1813. One contemporary account described an encounter with three French privateers in November 1812. In that account, Regent was armed with twelve guns and carried a crew of thirty-six; she reportedly sank one attacker and drove off the other two. The episode reflects the risks faced by merchant shipping during the Napoleonic Wars, when commercial vessels could require defensive armament and crews had to contend with privateers as well as weather and navigation hazards. Regent was admitted to the Registry of Great Britain in December 1813. Reports also associate her with a visit to Java in 1814, and the East India Company had the vessel measured in 1815. Her second Company voyage began in February 1816 under Captain Philip Ridley. She sailed from the Downs toward Madras and China, calling at Madras, Penang, Malacca, and Whampoa Anchorage before returning through the South China Sea and Indian Ocean to Britain in June 1817. Ridley commanded Regent again on her third voyage, which began in August 1818. The vessel reached Batavia and then Whampoa in early 1819. During the homeward passage, while Regent was at St Helena, Ridley reported that an unidentified person had offered him £600 to carry a concealed letter from Longwood, Napoleon Bonaparte's residence, to England. Correspondence from Longwood was subject to censorship, making the proposal politically sensitive, although Ridley said he could not identify the person who made it. Regent subsequently carried Lord and Lady George Bingham home and arrived at the Downs in July 1819. The fourth voyage began in April 1822 under Captain Robert W. Norfor, with China as the intended destination. Regent had to enter Rio de Janeiro for repairs to her mainmast and resumed the voyage in July. She later departed from Angier in the Netherlands East Indies, but no reliable subsequent arrival was recorded. Lloyd's List reported in March 1823 that she was presumed lost. Later accounts placed the wreck near Manila, possibly at or near Luban Island, on 1 or 3 November 1822. The vessel and cargo were totally lost, although approximately 3,000 packets were reportedly recovered. Reports differ over the number of deaths, giving figures of six, fourteen, or the loss of all hands; the detailed accounts specifically mention the Third Officer and five seamen among the dead. The East India Company valued the lost cargo at £117,375. Regent therefore represents a historical vessel and shipping identity rather than a continuing consumer brand.
History
Regent was launched at Calcutta in 1812 and operated as an extra ship under charter to the British East India Company. Her career took place during a period when the Company controlled or heavily influenced major commercial routes between Britain, India, Southeast Asia, and China. Extra ships supplemented the Company's regular fleet and were hired for individual voyages, giving the organization additional cargo capacity for the expanding trade in Asian goods. Her first recorded Company voyage began at Calcutta on 15 June 1812 under Captain James Haig. Regent passed Saugor, rounded the Cape of Good Hope, stopped at St Helena, and reached the Downs on 14 May 1813. A contemporary account says that she encountered three French privateers on 12 November 1812. The account describes Regent as carrying twelve guns and a crew of thirty-six and credits her with sinking one privateer while forcing the other two to withdraw. The report cannot be treated as a complete operational record, but it illustrates the armed and hazardous character of merchant voyages during the Napoleonic period. Regent was admitted to the Registry of Great Britain on 4 December 1813. Other reports connect her with Java in 1814, while the Company arranged for the ship to be measured in 1815. Her second Company voyage started from the Downs on 26 February 1816 under Captain Philip Ridley. She sailed to Madras, Penang, Malacca, and Whampoa Anchorage, then returned to Britain in June 1817 after crossing the Second Bar and calling at St Helena and Ascension. Ridley commanded the third voyage, which departed Portsmouth on 2 August 1818 for China. Regent reached Batavia in November and Whampoa in January 1819. While at St Helena on the return voyage, Ridley reported an attempt by an unidentified person to induce him to carry a secret letter from Longwood, Napoleon Bonaparte's residence, to England. The proposal was sensitive because correspondence from Longwood was censored. Ridley said he could not recall the identity of the person who made the offer. Regent later carried Lord and Lady George Bingham and arrived at the Downs on 30 July 1819. The vessel's fourth voyage began on 29 April 1822 under Captain Robert W. Norfor. She was bound for China but had to call at Rio de Janeiro to repair her mainmast, leaving again on 3 July. After reaching the Netherlands East Indies and departing Angier, she disappeared. Lloyd's List reported the absence of further news in March 1823 and treated the ship as presumed lost. Accounts date the wreck to 1 or 3 November 1822 and place it near Manila, with a more precise report locating it near Luban Island. The vessel was totally lost, although approximately 3,000 packets were said to have been saved. Reports disagree on the number of fatalities: one account mentions the Third Officer and five seamen, another gives fourteen deaths, while some summaries describe the loss as involving all hands. The East India Company assessed the lost cargo at £117,375. Regent did not survive as a continuing commercial identity; its historical significance lies in its documented voyages and its place in the maritime history of the East India Company's chartered fleet.
- 1823
Loss reported by Lloyd's List
[1]The ship's disappearance was reported and Regent was presumed to have foundered, with the cargo treated as lost.
- 1822
Fourth voyage and loss
[1]After departing for China under Captain Robert W. Norfor and stopping at Rio de Janeiro for mainmast repairs, Regent disappeared and was later reported wrecked near the Philippines.
- 1818
Third Company voyage began
[1]Regent departed Portsmouth for China under Ridley, later returning to Britain with Lord and Lady George Bingham among the passengers.
- 1816
Second Company voyage began
[1]Captain Philip Ridley sailed from the Downs for Madras and China, with calls at Penang, Malacca, and Whampoa.
- 1813
Completed first recorded East India Company voyage
[1]Under Captain James Haig, Regent completed a voyage from Calcutta to England, traveling via the Cape of Good Hope and St Helena.
- 1813
Admitted to the Registry of Great Britain
[1]Regent was entered in the British registry on 4 December.
- 1812
Launched at Calcutta
[1]Regent was launched at Calcutta and entered service as a vessel available for charter by the British East India Company.
Products and positioning
A chartered East India Company merchant vessel serving the early nineteenth-century maritime trade between Britain, India, Southeast Asia, and China.
Recent events
- 1823
Regent presumed lost after disappearing on China voyage[1]
Other
Lloyd's List reported that Regent had departed Angier for China but had not been heard from. The vessel was presumed to have foundered during the outward-bound leg of her fourth East India Company voyage.
- 1822
Regent wrecked near the Philippines[1]
Other
Later reports placed the loss of Regent near Manila, with one detailed account identifying the vicinity of Luban Island. The ship and cargo were destroyed, while some packets were salvaged and reports recorded deaths among the crew.
Sources3 sources
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