Clarendon (1804 ship)
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| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | Clarendon |
| Launched | 1788, France |
| Acquired | 1804 by purchase of a prize |
| Captured | 1805 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tons burthen | 412[1] (bm) |
| Complement | 50[1] |
| Armament | 22 × 9&18-pounder cannons[1] |
Clarendon was launched in France in 1788, under another name. She was taken in prize in 1804. In 1805, Clarendon began a voyage as a slave ship in the triangular trade in enslaved people but fell prey to Spanish privateers after she had embarked captives.
Clarendon first appeared in Lloyd's Register in 1805.[2]
| Year | Master | Owner | Trade | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1805 | J.Drew | W.Grice | Brocklebank | LR; large repair 1804 |
Captain William Grice acquired a letter of marque on 7 January 1805.[1] He sailed from Liverpool on 23 January. He acquired captives at the Congo River and Cabinda.[3]
Fate
In December 1805, Lloyd's List reported that Clarendon, William, Mills, master, and Rebecca, Thompson, master, had been captured on 1 September at Angola.[4] The two vessels were among the seven vessels off the Congo River that had fallen prey to a privateer.[a] The privateer was described as being of 22 guns and 350 men. Clarendon's captor sent her to the River Plate.[5]
A second report named the captors as L'Orient, of 14 guns, and Dromedario, of 22 guns. The captured vessels arrived in the River Plate before 12 November.[6] Clarendon arrived at Montevideo on 27 October 1805, with 232 slaves.[3]
Spanish records report that in June 1805, Viceroy Sobremonte, of Argentina, issued two letters of marque, one for Dolores (24 guns), Currand, master, and Berro y Errasquin, owner, and one for Dromedario (20 guns), Hippolito Mordel, master, and Canuerso y Masini, owner. The two sailed for the African coast, looking to capture enslaving ships. In three months of cruising Dolores captured three ships and one brig, carrying a total 600 enslaved people. Dromedario captured five ships, carrying a total of 500 enslaved people.[7]
In 1805, 30 British slave ships were lost. Thirteen were lost on the coast of Africa.[8] During the period 1793 to 1807, war, rather than maritime hazards or slave resistance, was the greatest cause of vessel losses among British slave vessels.[9]