Houghton (1782 EIC ship)

Sketch by Thomas Luny of the stern and bow and figurehead of the proposed East Indiaman Houghton, dated 28 January 1779, National Maritime Museum
History
Name:	Houghton
Owner:	Voyages #1-6: Cullen (or Cullem) Smith Voyage #7: James Rees
Builder:	Wells, Deptford
Launched:	23 September 1782
Fate:	Foundered 1803
General characteristics
Tons burthen:	778, or 778 20⁄94, or 800, (bm)
Length:	145 ft 6 1⁄2 in (44.4 m) (overall) 118 ft 7 in (36.1 m) (keel)
Beam:	35 ft 2 in (10.7 m)
Depth of hold:	14 ft 10 in (4.5 m)
Propulsion:	Sail
Complement:	17973: 99 1799:60
Armament:	1793: 26 × 6&4-pounder guns 1794: Upper deck: 24 × long 9-pounder guns Lower deck: 8 × brass 6-pounder + 2 × iron 6-pounder guns, + 4 light carronades 1799: 20 × 18-pounder carronades
Notes:	Three-decker

Houghton was launched in 1782 and made six voyages as an East Indiaman for the British East India Company (EIC). In 1794 she was part of an EIC squadron that had some success against French privateers and naval vessels in the Sunda Strait, and then in 1796 she participated as a transport in the British capture of St Lucia. She was sold in 1799 and her owner took her out to India to work in the tea trade between India and China. She foundered in 1803.

Captain James Munro was Houghton's captain for her first four voyages. He purchased the command from his maternal uncle Captain William Smith.

While Monro and Houghton were at Portsmouth, Monro witnessed the mutiny of the 77th Regiment of Foot, who refused to go to India, maintaining that their term of enlistment had expired. Houghton may have been one of the vessels scheduled to transport the regiment.

Houghton sailed from Portsmouth on 11 March 1783, bound for Madras and China. She reached São Tiago on 4 April, and Madras on 19 July. She was at Malacca on 12 August and arrived at Whampoa on 22 October. Homeward bound, she crossed the Second Bar on 6 January 1784, reached St Helena on 27 April, and arrived at the Downs on 27 June.

Houghton sailed from the Downs on 15 December 1784, bound for Madras and China. She reached Madeira on 7 January 1785, Madras on 26 May, and Malacca on 10 July, before arriving at Whampoa on 9 August. Homeward bound, she crossed the Second Bar on 15 October, reached St Helena on 24 February 1786, and arrived at the Downs on 14 May.

Houghton left the Downs on 19 February 1787, bound for Madras and China. She reached Madras on 3 June and Penang on 18 August, and arrived at Whampoa on 20 September. Homeward bound, she crossed the Second Bar on 12 December, reached st Helean on 17 April 1788, and arrived at the Downs on 22 June.

Houghton sailed from Portsmouth on 30 April 1789, bound for Madras and Bengal. She reached Madeira on 22 May and Madras on 3 September, arrived at Diamond Harbour on 22 September. Leaving Calcutta, she was at Saugor on 25 January 1790, Madras on 11 March, and Masulipatam on 6 May. On 8 April she was near Budge Budge, below Calcutta. Several of her crew were in a sloop when a squall caught them and upset her. The men from Houghton, the lascars, and others on board all jumped into the river and made it ashore without anyone suffering material injury. Between March and April she may have transported British troops from Madras to Bengal.