Perseus (1799 ship)
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom
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| Name: | Perseus |
| Namesake: | Perseus |
| Owner: | Reeve & Co. |
| Builder: | Thomas Haw, |
| Launched: | 17 June 1799 |
| Fate: | Last listed in 1844 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tons burthen: | 364, or 37238⁄94 (bm) |
| Propulsion: | Sail |
| Complement: | 38 |
| Armament: |
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Perseus was a sailing ship built in 1799 at , England. She made one voyage transporting convicts to New South Wales, returning to England via Canton. Thereafter she served as a transport. She is last listed in 1844.
Her first trade was as a London-based transport, with T. Ellerby as master. Her next trade was London-Jamaica, under John Dick, master. During 1801, her trade became London-Botany Bay.
Under the command of John Davison, she sailed from Spithead, England on 12 February 1802, in company with Coromandel.
The contractor for the voyage provided the guards for both Perseus and Coromandel. This was an unusual arrangement as earlier the New South Wales Marine Corps and the New South Wales Corps had provided the guards. Later, regular regiments of the British Army provided the guards. The civilian contractor provided 20 men for Coromandel and 16 for Perseus. The guards were civilians and part of the crew, responsible to the master. The Transportation Board paid the contractor a flat rate of £75 for each guard.
Perseus reached Rio de Janeiro on 9 April, and the Cape on 25 May. At the Cape Davison purchased a number of head of cattle.
She arrived at Port Jackson on 14 August 1802.Perseus transported 113 male convicts, one of whom died on the voyage. The cattle too survived the voyage and Governor Philip Gidley King purchased them for the Government at £35 per head.
Perseus left Port Jackson on 7 October bound for China, despite having been hit by lightning. Perseus brought with her goods loaded in London for sale at Canton.Perseus returned to Britain on 9 August 1803.
In 1804 she was converted to an armed escort ship and transport. On 10 September the "Perseus armed defense ship" sailed for Shields.
By 1809-10 Perseus was a transport operating out of Cowes.
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Wikipedia