Fame was launched at Bristol in 1801 and repaired and measured in 1802 by Perry, on the Thames. She made two voyages for the British East India Company (EIC). On her third voyage a French frigate captured her. She apparently returned to British hands and was last listed in 1811.

History
United Kingdom
NameFame
Owner
  • Voyages 1-2: William Holden[1]
  • Voyage 3:John Wedderburn[1]
BuilderJames M. Hillhouse, Bristol,[2]
Launched1801
CapturedJune and September 1806
FateLast listed in 1811
General characteristics
Tons burthen492,[1] or 4925794,[2] 520[3][4] or 527[5] (bm)
Length118 ft 3 in (36.0 m) (overall);[1] keel 94 ft 4 in (28.8 m) (keel)[1]
Beam31 ft 4 in (9.6 m)[1]
Depth of hold13 ft 0 in (4.0 m)[1]
PropulsionSail
Complement
Armament
  • 1804:19 × 12&6&4-pounder guns[3]
  • 1806:16 × 12-pounder guns[4]
NotesThree decks

Career

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EIC voyage #1 (1802-1803): Captain John Valentine Baker Captain Baker sailed from Portsmouth on 12 May 1802, bound for Bengal and Bencoolen. Fame arrived at Calcutta on 28 September. She was next at Kedgeree on 5 January 1803, Penang on 29 January, and Bencoolen on 26 February. Homeward bound, she reached St Helena on 4 June, and arrived at Long Reach on 26 August.[1]

EIC voyage #2 (1804-1805): Captain Baker acquired a letter of marque on 23 January 1804.[Note 1] Baker sailed from Plymouth on 26 February 1804, bound for Madras and Bengal. Fame was at Madeira on 29 March, reached Madras on 27 July and Masuliptam on 21 August, and arrived at Calcutta on 4 September. Homeward bound, she was at Kedgeree on 12 December and Madras again on 12 February 1805. She reached St Helena on 20 June, before arriving at Blackwall on 18 September.[1]

Capture

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Captain James Jameson acquired a letter of marque on 12 February 1806.[4] On 30 March he sailed from Portsmouth for Bombay and Bengal.[1]

On 24 September 1806 the French frigate Piémontaise captured Fame at 9°10′N 76°00′E / 9.167°N 76.000°E / 9.167; 76.000 as Fame was sailing from Bombay to Bengal.[6] There was a short action,[7] in which Piémontaise suffered 17 casualties and Fame seven.[8] One British death was Midshipman Peter Paton.[9]

The French sent Fame into Mauritius,[2] where she was offered for sale on 26 December.[10] The EIC reported that it had had no cargo aboard her.[11]

British vessel again

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In a process that is unclear, Fame returned to her owners. Lloyd's Register and the Register of Shipping continue to carry her to 1811 with Jameson, master, Wedderburn, owner, and trade London—Bengal. Both also show her as having undergone a survey in 1807 that rated her "A1".[12]

Notes

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  1. ^ This letter is erroneously listed under the name James.[3]

Citations

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j British Library: Fame (3).
  2. ^ a b c Hackman (2001), pp. 108–9.
  3. ^ a b c d "Letter of Marque, p.70 - accessed 25 July 2017" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d "Letter of Marque, p.63 - accessed 25 July 2017" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  5. ^ Farr (1950), p. 231.
  6. ^ House of Commons (1814), p. 14.
  7. ^ Lloyd's List 24 March 1807, №4137.
  8. ^ Woodman (2001), p. 231.
  9. ^ Scots Magazine ... (1807), Vol. 69, p.317. (Sands, Brymer, Murray and Cochran).
  10. ^ Piat (2007), p. 139.
  11. ^ Reports from the Select Committee of the House of Commons appointed to enquire into the present state of the affairs of the East India Company, together with the minutes of evidence, an appendix of documents, and a general index, (1830), Vol. 2, p.977.
  12. ^ Register of Shipping (1825), Seq.№85.

References

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  • Farr, Grahame E., ed. (1950). Records of Bristol Ships, 1800-1838 (vessels over 150 tons). Vol. 15. Bristol Record Society.
  • Hackman, Rowan (2001). Ships of the East India Company. Gravesend, Kent: World Ship Society. ISBN 0-905617-96-7.
  • House of Commons, Parliament, Great Britain (1814). Minutes of the Evidence Taken Before the Select Committee on Petitions Relating to East-India-Built Shipping. H.M. Stationery Office.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  • Piat, Denis (2007). Pirates and Corsairs in Mauritius. Translated by North-Coombes, Mervyn. Christian le Comte. ISBN 978-99949-905-3-5.
  • Woodman, Richard (2001). The Sea Warriors. Constable Publishers. ISBN 1-84119-183-3.