Zephyr was built on the River Thames in 1790 as a West Indiaman. From c.1796 she started to serve the British East India Company (EIC) as a packet ship. However, a French privateer captured her in 1798.

History
Great Britain
NameZephyr
OwnerKensington & Co.[1]
BuilderThames
Launched1790
Captured1798
General characteristics
Tons burthen286,[2][1] or 300[3] (bm)
PropulsionSail
Complement18[3]
Armament
  • 1793:8 × 6-pounder guns + 2 swivel guns[3]
  • 1797:10 × 6-pounder + 2 × 12-pounder guns[4]

Career

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Zephyr entered Lloyd's Register in 1791 with T. Scott, master, and trade London-St Vincent.[2]

After the commencement of the French Revolutionary Wars in 1793, Captain Thomas Scott received a letter of marque on 9 March.[3]

On 30 December 1795, Messrs. St Barbe, Green, and Bignell offered Zephyr, and another brig, Aurora, to the Committee of Shipping of the EIC.[5] The next day the Committee replied that as the EIC had decided not to engage any vessels of under 400 tons burthen, it would decline the offer.[6]

Lloyd's List reported on 11 October 1796 that Zephyr had arrived at Dover from Demerara. As she arrived in English waters she saw a brig founder at Lands End.[7]

The next year the EIC reversed its earlier policy and engaged Zephyr as a packet. Lloyd's Register for 1797 shows her trade changing from Cork—San Domingo to London—East India.[4]

Loss

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On 20 February 1798 as Zephyr was returning to Britain from Bengal and the Cape of Good Hope, the French privateer Vengeance captured her at 45°35′N 37°10′W / 45.583°N 37.167°W / 45.583; -37.167. Zephyr, which was under the command of Captain John Scott, was no match for Vengeance, which was armed with 24 guns and had a crew of 215 men.[a] Vengeance sent Zephyr into Bordeaux.[9] The EIC valued its cargo on Zephyr at £2,554.[10]

Notes

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  1. ^ Vengeance was 300-ton (French; "of load"), 20-gun privateer corvette commissioned in Bordeaux in October 1797. Her first cruise started in October 1797. Second cruise, Captain Limousin, with 5 officers and 74 men, lasted from circa August 1798 to circa February 1799. Her third cruise took place in 1800 under a Captain Grandier.[8]

Citations

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  1. ^ a b Hackman (2001), p. 246.
  2. ^ a b Lloyd's Register Seq.№Z16.
  3. ^ a b c d "Letter of Marque, p.93 - accessed 25 July 2017" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  4. ^ a b Lloyd's Register (1797), Seq. №Z18.
  5. ^ Proceedings..., p.943.
  6. ^ Proceedings..., pp.816-7.
  7. ^ Lloyd's List №2862.
  8. ^ Demerliac (1999), p. 270, N°2373.
  9. ^ Lloyd's List №2998.
  10. ^ House of Commons (1830), p. 977.

References

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