Experiment (1798 ship)
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom
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| Name: | Experiment |
| Owner: |
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| Builder: | Thomas Haw, |
| Launched: | 17 July 1798 |
| Fate: | Condemned at Batavia in 1818 and sold there in 1819 for breaking up |
| General characteristics | |
| Tons burthen: | 568, or 581 38⁄94 (bm) |
| Propulsion: | Sail |
| Complement: | 45 |
| Armament: | 2 × 6-pounder guns + 12 × 18-pounder carronades |
Experiment was launched in 1798 at , England. In 1803 she transported convicts to Port Jackson. In 1805, on her way home the French captured her, but the British recaptured her. In 1808 she became a West Indiaman. still, in 1818 or so she sailed out to India. Experiment was condemned at Batavia in 1818 and sold there in 1819 for breaking up.
Under the command of Francis J. Withers, Experiment sailed from Cowes, England on 4 December 1803. She sailed under a letter of marque issued to "Francis McWither" on 4 October 1803.
She left in company with Coromandel, which was also carrying convicts to Port Jackson. While sailing in the Bay of Biscay (or 16 leagues from the Isles of Scilly, Experiment sprang her bowsprit and had her main top gallant mast carried away, during a gale. She limped back to Cowes to repair the damage and after repairs were affected, she sailed again on 2 January 1804. She arrived at Rio de Janeiro on 8 March and left on 8 April. She arrived at Port Jackson on 12 June 1804.
Experiment embarked two male and 136 female convicts. Six female convicts died on the voyage.
Experiment left Port Jackson on 7 October bound for China.
While Experiment was on her homeward passage from China to London, carrying a cargo of tea, the French privateer Napoleon, of Saint-Malo, captured her. Napoleon encountered Experiment on 27 May 1805 at 37°0′S 22°30′E / 37.000°S 22.500°E and captured her after a 30-hour chase. Napoleon, which was under the command of Captain Malo le Nourville, was heavily armed. She had sixteen 32-pounder and four 18-pounder guns on the main deck, and two 36-pounder on 6-pounder guns on the upper deck. She also had a crew of 200 men. After an engagement of half-an-hour, Experiment had three men badly wounded, her tiller shot away, some 32 shot between wind and water, and two feet of water in her hold. Withers therefor struck her flag. Napoleon was four months out of False Bay and Experiment was her first prize.
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Wikipedia