Comet
Comet was a British merchant ship launched on the Thames in 1800 that made East India Company voyages before later serving in military-support and West Indies trading roles.
Last updated August 31, 2026
AI crawler reads
2requests
1companies- Anthropic2
- Profile
- 2
- Controversies
- 0
- JSON · MD
- 0
- First read
- Nov 4, 2026
- Latest read
- Nov 4, 2026
From this site's server log
Overview
Comet was a British merchant vessel launched on the River Thames in 1800. It was owned by St Barbe and operated during the era of the Napoleonic Wars, when British merchant shipping combined commercial activity with military and privateering functions. The surviving historical record concerns the vessel as an individual ship rather than as a modern consumer brand, corporate brand, or product family. The ship initially sailed under Captain J. Mooring on a voyage to Surinam. Its owners subsequently placed it under charter to the British East India Company for long-distance service between Britain, India, and other points on the Company’s trading network. Captain Thomas Larkins received a letter of marque for the vessel in June 1801, giving the ship legal authority to act against enemy commerce during wartime. Comet departed Portsmouth in September 1801 as part of a large escorted convoy bound for Bengal. It reached Calcutta in February 1802, experienced operational difficulties after grounding in the Bengal River, and returned to Britain in January 1803 after completing the voyage. Comet’s second East India Company voyage began in June 1803 under Captain James Moring. On 1 July, while sailing north of Madeira, the ship was captured by a French naval force returning from the Caribbean. The French squadron took Comet to Ferrol, while the British prisoners were released. The ship did not remain permanently in French possession. It was later sold at A Coruña to an American company in London, sent toward England in ballast, detained by HMS Northumberland, and brought into Plymouth in September 1804. This recovery enabled its previous ownership and British commercial career to resume. Following its return, Comet was again recorded under St Barbe ownership, with trade between London and India. In 1805 it began another voyage toward Madras and Bengal. During this voyage it formed part of the British expedition associated with General Sir David Baird and Admiral Sir Home Riggs Popham’s seizure of the Dutch Cape Colony in 1806. The ship carried supplies and troops and continued onward to India after the Cape operations. It reached Madras in April 1806 and Calcutta in June, then returned through ports including Madras, Trincomalee, the Cape of Good Hope, and St Helena before arriving at Blackwall in April 1807. After its East India Company service, Comet apparently operated first as a troopship and later in the West Indies trade. Several masters were associated with the vessel in the wartime record. George Higton received a letter of marque for Comet in 1808, although the available record does not establish that he actually took command. James McDonald was listed as master in the period around 1808–1809. The ship’s final fate is uncertain. One account places its loss at sea in 1816, while another record reports a Comet commanded by Wilson lost on West Hoyle sandbank on 29 June 1815 while sailing from Dublin to Chester; the crew survived. The available sources do not conclusively establish whether those records concern the same vessel. Comet is therefore best understood as a historical British merchant ship whose significance lies in East India Company commerce, wartime convoying, capture and recovery, troop transport, and later regional trade.
History
Comet was launched on the Thames in 1800 for British merchant service. Its first recorded voyage was to Surinam under Captain J. Mooring. The ship was subsequently chartered by the British East India Company and entered the long-distance trade linking Britain with India. Captain Thomas Larkins received a letter of marque in June 1801, and Comet sailed from Portsmouth in September as part of an escorted convoy bound for Bengal. It reached Calcutta in February 1802, but grounding in the Bengal River required repairs and delayed the homeward voyage. Comet ultimately returned to Britain in January 1803. The vessel began a second East India Company voyage in June 1803 under Captain James Moring. On 1 July it was captured north of Madeira by a French squadron returning from the Caribbean. The French took Comet to Ferrol and released the British prisoners. The ship was later sold at nearby A Coruña to an American company in London. That company sent it toward England in ballast, but HMS Northumberland detained it and directed it to Plymouth, where it arrived in September 1804. The episode restored Comet to British commercial control. Lloyd’s Register subsequently listed Comet under St Barbe ownership, with London–India trade. In 1805 the ship again sailed toward Madras and Bengal. It joined the expedition led by General Sir David Baird and Admiral Sir Home Riggs Popham in connection with the British capture of the Dutch Cape Colony in January 1806. Comet carried military supplies and troops, reached the Cape early in the operation, and then continued toward India. It arrived at Madras in April and Calcutta in June. Its return voyage took it through Indian Ocean ports, the Cape of Good Hope, and St Helena before it reached Blackwall in April 1807. The later part of Comet’s career appears to have differed from its East India Company work. The ship apparently served as a troopship and was then placed in the West Indies trade. George Higton received a letter of marque for Comet in February 1808, although the available record does not confirm that he assumed command. James McDonald was recorded as master around 1808–1809. The vessel’s final loss cannot be identified with certainty. One source gives 1816, whereas Lloyd’s List reports a Comet commanded by Wilson lost on West Hoyle sandbank on 29 June 1815 while travelling from Dublin to Chester, with the crew saved. The evidence does not conclusively determine whether that report refers to this ship.
- 1815
Possible loss
[1]A Lloyd’s List entry records a Comet lost on West Hoyle sandbank, although the identity of the vessel is not certain.
- 1806
Cape Colony expedition
[1]Comet carried troops and supplies during the British operation against the Dutch Cape Colony.
- 1804
Return to British control
[1]The vessel was detained by HMS Northumberland and brought into Plymouth after changing hands during the French occupation.
- 1803
Capture by France
[1]Comet was captured north of Madeira during its second East India Company voyage and taken to Ferrol.
- 1801
First East India Company voyage
[1]The ship departed Portsmouth for Bengal under Captain Thomas Larkins and reached Calcutta in February 1802.
- 1800
Launch on the Thames
[1]Comet was launched on the Thames and entered British merchant service.
Products and positioning
A wartime British merchant vessel used for intercontinental commerce, chartered East India Company service, military logistics, and later West Indies trade.
Merchant ship · 1800
Comet
The vessel itself was a British merchant ship used for oceanic cargo transportation. Its documented assignments included East India Company voyages to Bengal and Madras, carriage of military supplies and troops during the 1806 Cape Colony expedition, and later service associated with the West Indies trade.
Brand decisions
1806
Military-support deploymentStrategyBackground
During the Napoleonic Wars, British merchant vessels were used alongside naval forces to move personnel and supplies.
Action taken
Comet joined the expedition associated with the capture of the Dutch Cape Colony before continuing its India voyage.
Aftermath
The ship reached Madras and Calcutta and completed its return to Britain in 1807.
1804
Return to British commercial serviceStrategyBackground
After French forces captured Comet in 1803, the ship was sold at A Coruña to an American company in London and sent toward England in ballast.
Action taken
HMS Northumberland detained the vessel and sent it into Plymouth, after which records again show it under St Barbe ownership and London–India trade.
Aftermath
Comet resumed British service and undertook another voyage toward Madras and Bengal in 1805.
Recent events
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/comet · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled