Adventure (1804 ship)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| History | |
|---|---|
 France | |
| Captured | 1803[1] |
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | Adventure |
| Acquired | 1804 by purchase of a prize |
| Fate | Wrecked 28 April 1808 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tons burthen | 294[1] (bm) |
| Length | 97 ft 6 in (29.7 m)[2] |
| Beam | 26 ft 7 in (8.1 m)[2] |
| Armament | 12 × 6-pounder guns[1] |
| Notes | Two decks and three masts |
Adventure was a French privateer captured in 1803. She became a whaler that made two voyages to the Southern Whale Fishery. She was wrecked in April 1808 as she set out on her third.
On 2 October 1803 HMS Acasta captured the French privateer Adventure. Adventure was out of Bordeaux and carried 20 guns and a crew of 144 men. Acasta pursued her in the mid-Atlantic for 45 hours, finally bringing her to action and capturing her.[3] Acasta also recaptured two prizes, Royal Edward and St. Mary's Planter, that Adventure had taken from the Jamaican convoy and whose captains were aboard Adventure.[4] When Acasta intercepted Adventure, she had been about to take possession of Jane, before going after a fourth ship of the convoy.[3] Acasta sent Venturé, Royal Edward, and St. Mary's Planter into Plymouth.[5]
Whaler
The London-based shipowner Daniel Bennett purchased a French prize that Acasta had captured,[2] and renamed her Adventure. At the time Bennett was the most important ship-owner in the Fishery and had some 17 vessels out whale hunting.[6]
Adventure first appeared in the Register of Shipping for 1805 with J. Page, master, Bennett, owner, and trade London–Southern Fishery.[1]
1st whaling voyage (1804-1806): Captain John Page (or Paget) sailed from England on 3 September 1804, bound for Peru. Adventure was at Easter Island at some point in 1805 and may have brought a young Easter Islander to England when she returned on 28 April 1806.[7]
2nd whaling voyage (1806-1808): Captain Page sailed on 20 June 1806, bound for Delagoa Bay. A report on 15 January 1808 stated that Adventure was at Delagoa Bay on 1 August 1807, but that Page had died. Captain William Parker (or Barker) returned to England on 6 March 1808.[7]
