| History | |
|---|---|
 Kingdom of France | |
| Launched | 1779[1] |
 Great Britain | |
| Name | Matilda |
| Acquired | 1790 |
| Fate | Wrecked in 1792 |
| Notes | Three decks. Copper sheathing.[1] Underwent a good repair in 1791 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tons burthen | 460[1] (bm) |
| Draft | 18 ft (5.5 m)[1] |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
Matilda was a ship built in France and launched in 1779. She became a whaling ship for the British company Camden, Calvert and King, making a whaling voyage while under the command of Matthew Weatherhead to New South Wales and the Pacific in 1790.[2]
She enters Lloyd's Register in 1791 with Weatherhead as master, Calvert & Co., as owners, and trade London—Botany Bay.[1] That year, either owned or leased by Samuel Enderby & Sons, she transported convicts from England to Australia as part of the third fleet.
She departed Portsmouth on 27 March 1791 and arrived on 1 August in Port Jackson, New South Wales.[3] She had embarked 250 male convicts in England, 25 of whom died during the voyage.[4] Nineteen officers and men of the New South Wales Corps provided the guards. On her arrival at Port Jackson the ship required repairs.
After he had delivered his convicts, Weatherhead took Matilda whaling in the New South Wales fishery or off Van Diemen's Land.[5]
New South Wales records show Matilda as leaving for India in November.[6] She apparently sailed via the Marquesas Islands. Other records have Matilda leaving Port Jackson on 28 December, bound for Peru.[7]
