Achilles was built at Sunderland in 1799. Although early on she made some voyages to the West Indies, she spent most of her mercantile career trading with the Baltic and northern Russia, and as a coaster. However, between about 1810 and 1814, she served as a transport under Transport Board. She suffered three maritime mishaps before 1835 and assisted at a fourth. She was lengthened in 1835. Her crew abandoned her in October 1839 and she subsequently foundered.
In 1799 Achilles, Haddock, master, was already trading with Petersburg. Achilles first appeared in the Register of Shipping (RS) in 1800,[2] and in Lloyd's Register (LR) in 1801.[3]
Year
Master
Owner
Trade
Source
1800
Haddock
Atkinson
Newcastle coaster
RS
1801
T.Beswick S.Corney
T.Atkins
London–Demerara
LR
1802
S.Corney
T.Atkins
London–St Kitts
LR & RS
1804
Weatherby
Captain & Co.
Newcastle–Baltic
RS
1809
Weatherby
Captain & Co.
Newcastle–Baltic
RS; damage repaired 1803
On 18 December 1808, Brighton Packet, of Deal, was in a sinking state. Achilles took off Brighton Packet's crew and brought them into Torbay. On 20 December, Achilles, Weatherby, master, came into Torbay. She had been sailing from Portsmouth to Newcastle when she had been driven off St Valery.[5]
The complete picture, by Robert Salmon. The protected harbour of Whitehaven in the background.
Achilles re-entered the Register of Shipping with the volume for 1816.[4]
Year
Master
Owner
Trade
Source & notes
1816
Wedderburn
Kirkley
Shields–London
RS
1818
Wedderburn Kirkley
Kirkley
Shields–London
RS; new tops and sides and good repair 1818
On 24 December 1818, Achilles, of South Shields, was sailing from Newcastle to London with a cargo of coal when Beaver, Lyle, master, ran into her. Beaver was sailing from London to Banff, her crew was not watching out, and Achilles's crew was not able to get their attention. Beaver sank but Achilles rescued the crew.[6]
Year
Master
Owner
Trade
Source & notes
1820
Kirkley
Kirkley
Hull coaster
RS; new tops and sides and good repair 1818
On 2 October 1823 a storm caught Achilles, Kirkley, master, between the Spurn and the floating light. Achilles lost her foremast and bowsprit. Two smacks came out and towed her into Hull.[7]
Year
Master
Owner
Trade
Source & notes
1824
Kirkley
Kirkley
Hull coaster
RS; new tops and sides and good repair 1818
1825
Kirkle
Kirkle
Hull coaster
LR; new deck & large repair 1818, new wales 1820, & repairs 1823
1826
Elliot
Kirkley
"Sw"–London
RS; new tops and sides & good repair 1818, & repairs 1823
1827
Scotland
Kirkley
"Sw"–London
RS; new tops and sides & good repair 1818, repairs 1823, & large repair 1826
On 21 April 1829, Achilles, Scotland, master, struck a rock. She was towed into Loch Tarbert in a sinking state.[8]
Year
Master
Owner
Trade
Source & notes
1832
Kirkley
Kirkley
Yarmouth coaster
RS; repair 1823, & large repair 1826
1834
Dickinson
LR
1835
Dickinson Crawford
Kell & Son
Newcastle–London
LR; lengthened & thorough repair 1835
Fate
On 20 October 1839 Achilles, Patten, master, was on a voyage from South Shields to London with a cargo of coal. She anchored off Cromer, having lost her mainmast and foretopmast. Her crew abandoned her, coming ashore in the lifeboats. She foundered on 29 October.[9][10][11]
Her entry in the 1839 volume of Lloyd's Register carried the annotation "Foundered".[12]
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