General Goddard (1782)

East Indiaman General Goddard with the Dutch Fleet, 15 June 1795, by Thomas Luny, c. 1796
History
United Kingdom
Name:	General Goddard
Owner:	Voyages 1 & 2: William Money Voyages 3-6: Robert Wigram
Builder:	Randall
Launched:	30 January 1782
Captured:	15 November 1799
General characteristics
Tons burthen:	799 90⁄94 (bm)
Length:	143 ft 10 in (43.8 m) (overall) 116 ft 7 in (35.5 m) (keel)
Beam:	35 ft 11 in (10.9 m)
Depth of hold:	14 ft 9 in (4.5 m)
Sail plan:	Full rigged ship
Complement:	Voyages #1–6: 100 men Voyage #7:50 men
Armament:	1st Letter of Marque: 20 × 9-pounder guns 2nd Letter of Marque: 26 × 9 & 4-pounder guns 3rd Letter of Marque: 36 × 9 & 4-pounder guns 4th Letter of Marque: 24 × 9 & 4-pounder guns 20 × 9-pounder guns + 4 × 4-pounder guns

The General Goddard was an East Indiaman launched in 1782 that made six voyages to the East Indies for the Honourable East India Company. After she was sold, she made one journey to the West Indies, where the Spanish captured her in November 1799. Her most notable exploit occurred on her fifth voyage, when she captured seven Dutch East Indiamen on 15 June 1795.

She was named for General Thomas Wyndahm Goddard who played a major role in the First Anglo-Maratha War in 1780.

East Indiamen traveled in convoys as much as they could. Frequently these convoys had as escorts vessels of the British Royal Navy, though generally not past India, or before on the return leg. Even so, the Indiamen were heavily armed so that they could dissuade pirates and even large privateers.

Like many other East Indiamen during the French Revolutionary Wars, General Goddard sailed under letters of marque. These authorized her to take prizes should the opportunity arise.

Under the command of Captain Thomas Foxall, General Goddard left the Downs on 11 September 1782 and reached Madras on 16 April 1783. She reached Anjengo, at the southern tip of India on 22 October, and then Bombay on 9 November. In Bmbay she took on board a part of the crew of the East Indiaman Resolution, which had been condemned in the East Indies. On her homeward-bound leg she arrived at St Helena on 9 August 1784. She arrived at the Downs on 24 October.

General Goddard, still under the command of Captain Thomas Foxall, left the Downs on 17 December 1785, reaching Madeira on 5 January 1786. From there she sailed to Johanna, in the Comorros Islands, arriving on 26 April, and Madras on 7 June. She then sailed for China, arriving at Malacca on 31 August and Whampoa on 5 October. On her return trip she crossed the Second Bar on 18 February 1787 and reached St Helena on 21 June. She then entered the Downs on 28 August.

General Goddard left the Downs on 26 February 1789 under the command of Captain Thomas Foxall. She reached Diamond Harbour (Calcutta) on 26 June. On her homeward leg, she touched in at Saugor on 27 November and Madras on 27 December. From there she reached St Helena on 18 March 1790. On 14 May she ran aground near the Brisou (Grange Chine), at the Isle of Wight. She was gotten off, but had extensive damage and 10 feet of water in her hold. Still she arrived in the Downs on 13 June.