History
United Kingdom
NameGeneral Graham
NamesakeThomas Graham, 1st Baron Lynedoch
OwnerJ. W. Buckle & Co.,[1] or "Middleton"[2]
BuilderWilliam Gibson & Co., Hull[1]
Launched10 April 1811[1]
FateLast listed in 1844
General characteristics
Tons burthen426,[3] or 429,[4] or 430,[1][2][5] or 450 (bm)
Length116 ft 6 in (35.5 m)[3]
Beam29 ft 5 in (9.0 m)[3]
Complement35[5]
Armament14 × 12-pounder carronades[5]

General Graham was launched in 1811 at Hull. She made one voyage for the British East India Company (EIC) as an "extra" ship, i.e., under charter. She carried stores to New South Wales, and returned to England via China. She also made one voyage to Bengal as a licensed ship. Between 1829 and 1847 she made numerous voyages between Scotland and Canada carrying cargoes, but also some immigrants. Currently, she last appears in records in 1847.

Career

At launch, General Graham's master was A. Nieven, but shortly thereafter William Watson replaced him.[2]

EIC voyage to Australia and China

Captain William Watson received a Letter of Marque on 14 August 1811.[5] He sailed from The Downs on 4 September, bound for New South Wales and China. General Graham left in company with the convict transport Guildford, and reached Rio de Janeiro on 31 October, some five days after Guildford. The two vessels left Rio together. Guildford was again the faster sailer, arriving in Port Jackson on 18 January 1812, whereas General Graham arrived ten days later.[6] Apparently she was carrying stores.[7]

General Graham left Port Jackson on 30 March 1812, supposedly for Bengal.[7] However, she actually sailed to China. On 6 May Watson sighted a high island at about 7°N that was possibly Pohnpei. Canoes left the island and came towards General Graham.[8] However, they did not make contact with the ship.[9]

Some time thereafter Watson died and William Bendall, the Chief Mate, took command.[10] General Graham arrived at Whampoa on 24 June. Homeward-bound, she reached Malacca on 22 October, the Cape on 34 January 1813, and St Helena on 10 March. She arrived at The Downs on 14 May.[6]

General Graham, Weatherhead, master, was scheduled to sail to Madras and Bengal on 23 July 1818.[11] She sailed on 18 September, as a licensed ship.[12]

Lloyd's Register for 1819 reported that General Graham, Weatherhead, master, had sailed on 31 March 1818 for Bengal and Madras as a licensed ship.[13]

Canada

Between 1829 and 1847 General Graham made several voyages between Scotland, particularly Alloa, and Canada, sometimes bringing immigrants.

General Graham was reported to have been lost on 11 May 1838 near Cape Ray.[17] She was later refloated and taken into Quebec City for repairs.[18]

Lloyd's Register last listed General Graham in 1844, but the last records of voyages occur in 1847.

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d Hackman (2001), p. 233.
  2. ^ a b c Lloyd's Register (1812), seq. no. G61.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Campey (2005), p. 142.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Dobson (2009), vol. 2, p. 60.
  5. ^ a b c d Letter of Marque, 1793–1815, p.65;"War of 1812: UK sources for Privateers". Archived from the original on 9 July 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  6. ^ a b British Library: General Graham.
  7. ^ a b "Arrival of Vessels at Port Jackson, and their Departure". Australian Town and Country Journal. 3 January 1891. p. 16. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
  8. ^ Foreign Ships in Micronesia - accessed 28 December 2015.
  9. ^ Hanlon (1988), pp. 30–1.
  10. ^ Lévesque (2001), p. 87.
  11. ^ "PACKET BOATS.-JULY 15." 18 July 1816, Caledonian Mercury (Edinburgh, Scotland), Issue: 14765.
  12. ^ Licensed ships, 1818 season.
  13. ^ Licensed ships.
  14. ^ Dobson (2009), vol. 1, p. 43.
  15. ^ Ship Arrivals at the Port of Quebec, 1832.
  16. ^ Ship Arrivals at the Ports of Montreal and Quebec, 1835.
  17. ^ Naval Journal, Vol. 9-10, p.426.
  18. ^ "Shipping Intelligence". Caledonian Mercury. No. 18490. Edinburgh. 25 June 1838.
  19. ^ Ship Arrivals at the Port of Quebec, 1842.

References

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