Crown
Crown was a British merchant ship launched at Newcastle upon Tyne in 1793 that traded chiefly with the West Indies and completed a chartered British East India Company voyage before sinking in 1810.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Crown was a British merchant sailing vessel launched at Newcastle upon Tyne in 1793. Although the surviving record is relatively limited, the ship’s career illustrates the mixed commercial and strategic roles performed by late-eighteenth- and early-nineteenth-century merchantmen. Crown primarily operated as a West Indiaman, connecting Britain with Caribbean trading destinations, and was recorded in Lloyd’s Register from 1795 with Stranach as master, Lyall as owner, and a London–Jamaica trade designation. The vessel also undertook work beyond ordinary commercial trading. In December 1796, Captain James Stranack obtained a letter of marque, giving Crown authorization to operate under wartime conditions. She sailed from Falmouth on 9 February 1797 on a British East India Company-related voyage to Madras and Bengal, reaching Madras on 29 June. During this period, the British government chartered Crown as a transport for a planned attack on Manila. She proceeded to Pondicherry and then Penang, but the proposed invasion was cancelled after Britain and Spain concluded a peace treaty. The government subsequently released the chartered vessels and paid Crown’s owners £6,753 18 shillings and 3 pence for her services. Crown resumed the East India voyage, returning to Madras in December 1797 and reaching Calcutta in January 1798. On the homeward passage she called at Kedgeree and the Cape of Good Hope. Damage, including the loss of her masts, forced her to put into the Cape, where she remained until November before continuing to Saint Helena and then Britain. She reached Long Reach on 6 February 1799. The ship later returned to Atlantic and Caribbean service. In 1803, while under the command of Caffrey, Crown was reported to have entered Ramsgate after losing anchors and cables and sustaining other damage while bound for Demerara. In February 1804, she again had to interrupt the Demerara voyage and return to Portsmouth. Records later associated the vessel with masters including Simpson and Irwin and with routes involving Plymouth, Quebec, and Halifax. Crown’s career ended on 24 September 1810, when she foundered on the Grand Banks of Newfoundland while sailing from Portsmouth, Hampshire, to Halifax, Nova Scotia. The vessels Isabella and Dorothy rescued her crew. The Register of Shipping for 1811 still listed the ship, but marked her as lost. Crown was therefore not a continuing commercial brand in the modern sense; it was the name of an individual historical merchant vessel whose documented operations included West Indian trade, an East India Company charter, government transport service, and transatlantic shipping.
History
Crown was launched at Newcastle upon Tyne in 1793 and entered the surviving commercial record through Lloyd’s Register in 1795. At that time, the ship was listed with Stranach as master, Lyall as owner, and London–Jamaica as its trade. This places Crown within the British West India merchant fleet, whose vessels carried goods and supplies between British ports and Caribbean destinations. In March 1796, Lloyd’s List reported that Crown and Susannah, both bound for the West Indies, had collided and returned to Portsmouth. Crown’s most notable documented assignment began after Captain James Stranack secured a letter of marque on 24 December 1796. She departed Falmouth on 9 February 1797 for Madras and Bengal and arrived at Madras on 29 June. During the voyage, the British government chartered her as a transport for a planned attack on Manila. Crown reached Pondicherry in August and Penang in September. The planned invasion was abandoned after a peace treaty with Spain, and the government released the ships it had hired. Crown’s owners received £6,753 18 shillings and 3 pence for the vessel’s services. After the cancellation, Crown continued to Madras, arriving again in December 1797, and then sailed to Calcutta, which she reached in January 1798. Her return passage took her through Kedgeree, the Cape of Good Hope, and Saint Helena. She suffered serious damage, including being dismasted, and had to remain at the Cape before departing in November. Crown reached Long Reach in Britain on 6 February 1799. The vessel subsequently resumed Atlantic trading. In late 1803, Crown, then under Caffrey’s command, was reported at Ramsgate after losing anchors and cables and sustaining other damage during a voyage toward Demerara. In early 1804, she again had to abandon the Demerara passage temporarily and return to Portsmouth. Later records associated Crown with masters including Simpson and Irwin and with routes between British ports and North American destinations. On 24 September 1810, Crown foundered on the Grand Banks of Newfoundland during a voyage from Portsmouth to Halifax, Nova Scotia. Isabella and Dorothy rescued the crew. The Register of Shipping for 1811 retained an entry for Crown but marked the ship as lost. No later operational history is recorded, and the vessel is treated as a historical ship rather than an active brand or company.
- 1810
Foundered on the Grand Banks
[1]Crown sank on 24 September while sailing from Portsmouth to Halifax. Its crew was rescued by Isabella and Dorothy.
- 1803
Damaged during Demerara voyage
[1]Crown reportedly put into Ramsgate after losing anchors and cables and suffering other damage while bound for Demerara.
- 1799
Returned to Britain
[1]Crown arrived at Long Reach on 6 February after completing the homeward leg of its East India-related voyage.
- 1798
Return voyage continued after expedition cancellation
[1]After the Manila expedition was cancelled, Crown visited Madras and Calcutta before beginning a damaged homeward passage via the Cape of Good Hope and Saint Helena.
- 1797
East India and government transport voyage began
[1]Crown sailed from Falmouth to Madras and Bengal and was chartered as a transport for the planned British attack on Manila.
- 1796
Letter of marque issued
[1]Captain James Stranack obtained a letter of marque on 24 December, authorizing Crown to operate under wartime maritime conditions.
- 1795
First recorded in Lloyd’s Register
[1]The ship appeared in Lloyd’s Register with Stranach as master, Lyall as owner, and London–Jamaica as its listed trade.
- 1793
Launch at Newcastle upon Tyne
[1]Crown was launched at Newcastle upon Tyne as a British merchant sailing vessel.
Products and positioning
Crown was a multipurpose British merchant vessel rather than a consumer-facing brand. Its commercial role centered on long-distance cargo and trade routes, while wartime chartering and letter-of-marque authorization allowed it to perform government transport and protected maritime service.
Merchant sailing ship · 1793
Crown merchant vessel
Crown was an individual British merchant sailing vessel launched in 1793. Its documented commercial work included West India trade, particularly the London–Jamaica route, and later voyages involving Demerara and British North American ports. It was a transport and cargo-carrying asset rather than a standardized product line.
Chartered maritime transport · 1797
Crown East India voyage service
Between 1797 and 1799, Crown performed a voyage associated with the British East India Company, traveling to Madras, Penang, Bengal, the Cape of Good Hope, Saint Helena, and Britain. During part of the voyage it was chartered by the British government as a transport for a proposed expedition against Manila.
Controversies
2021
Crown CEO Ken Barton steps down
Crown CEO and managing director Ken Barton stepped down after an inquiry found that Crown’s Sydney operation was not suitable to hold a casino licence at that time. The inquiry also said the regulator could not have confidence in dealing with Barton as a director of Crown.
Brand decisions
1797
Government charter for the Manila expeditionStrategyBackground
The British government chartered Crown as a transport for a planned attack on Manila during its East India voyage.
Action taken
Crown proceeded to Pondicherry and Penang as part of the transport arrangement.
Aftermath
The invasion was cancelled after Britain and Spain concluded a peace treaty. The government released the chartered vessels and paid Crown’s owners for the ship’s services.
Government payment to Crown’s owners. £6,753 18 shillings 3 pence (1797)
Recent events
Reported
Crown updates fourth-quarter and full-year 2026 earnings guidance[4]
Crown updated its fourth-quarter 2026 EPS guidance to 1.630–1.730 and its full-year 2026 EPS guidance to 8.350–8.450.
Reported
Crown reports quarterly earnings results[5]
Crown issued its quarterly earnings results, reporting earnings per share of $2.39 and revenue of $3.71 billion for the quarter.
Reported
Crown receives ASI certification for Mexican beverage can operations[6]
Crown Holdings received Aluminium Stewardship Initiative Performance Standard certification for its Mexican beverage can operations, verifying responsible production, sourcing and stewardship of aluminum.
Reported
Crown CEO Ken Barton steps down[7]
Crown CEO and managing director Ken Barton stepped down after an inquiry found that Crown’s Sydney operation was not suitable to hold a casino licence at that time. The inquiry also said the regulator could not have confidence in dealing with Barton as a director of Crown.
Reported
Toyota launches Crown 65th Anniversary special editions in Japan[8]
Toyota launched three Crown 65th Anniversary special-edition models in Japan: Crown S Elegance Style II, Crown S Sport Style, and Crown RS Limited.
Sources8 sources
- 1Crown (1793 ship)en.wikipedia.org
- 2Ships of the East India Companyworldcat.org
- 3Asiatic Annual Register, Volume 7books.google.com
- 4Crown 更新 2026 年第四季度及全年盈利指引tickerreport.com
- 5Crown公布季度业绩themarketsdaily.com
- 6Crown墨西哥饮料罐业务获得ASI认证prnewswire.com
- 7Crown首席执行官Ken Barton辞职businessinsider.com
- 8丰田在日本推出皇冠65周年纪念版车型tech.sina.com.cn
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