Diana

Diana was a British merchant vessel launched in 1799 and initially employed in the London–Jamaica trade. Although it is represented in the supplied dataset as a brand named Diana, the authoritative subject is a historical sailing ship rather than a modern consumer or corporate brand. Its career is documented principally through Lloyd's Register, East India Company records, Lloyd's List, and later historical compilations. The vessel first appeared in Lloyd's Register in 1799 with J. Wilson recorded as master and J. Potts as owner. Its initial route connected London with Jamaica, placing it within the Atlantic merchant trade. On 21 September 1799, Captain John Emperor Willson obtained a letter of marque, a wartime authorization that allowed a merchant vessel to undertake defensive or privateering activity against enemy shipping. The available references do not establish whether Diana subsequently captured prizes or engaged in combat. In 1805, Peter F. Maester fitted Diana for the London–India trade. The British East India Company accepted the vessel on 19 February 1805 for three voyages under a charter based on a stated peace-freight rate and separate wartime provisions. Diana then undertook a sequence of long voyages linking British ports with Madras, Bengal, and, later, Batavia. These voyages included stops at Madeira, São Tiago, the Cape of Good Hope, St Helena, Diamond Harbour, Saugor, Kidderpore, and other ports associated with the East India trade. Diana's first East India Company voyage ran from 1805 to 1807 under Captain John Eckford. It was followed by a second voyage from 1807 to 1809 under Captain John Marshall. During the latter return journey the ship reached Plymouth under jury masts after a gale carried away all of its masts, but it ultimately continued to London. Marshall also commanded the third Company voyage, from 1810 to 1811, which included Madras and Ganjam. The fourth chartered voyage, from 1812 to 1814, was commanded by Captain David Bowman and routed through Batavia and Bengal before the return to Britain. Diana disappeared from some register records between 1815 and 1817. The historical material suggests that it may have served as a government transport during part of this interval, but does not confirm the vessel's exact employment. In 1817, under Captain Rutter, Diana sailed for India under a license from the East India Company rather than under the earlier three-voyage charter. It reached Bengal around December of that year. The vessel's final recorded voyage ended in the Hooghly River system. After departing Bengal for London in 1818, Diana was reported to have returned with severe damage. Contemporary reports stated that it had run onto John and Mary's Sand on 6 June and was expected to be refloated. Later reporting indicated that it returned to Calcutta and had been condemned by late June. Lloyd's Register subsequently marked the vessel as condemned. The available sources do not provide a confirmed construction yard, builder, tonnage beyond the charter reference to 600 tons, or a precise launch location.

Diana was launched in 1799 as a British West Indiaman. Its first known Lloyd's Register entry listed J. Wilson as master, J. Potts as owner, and London–Jamaica as the vessel's trade. Captain John Emperor Willson obtained a letter of marque in September 1799. The record does not establish any resulting captures or military actions. In preparation for the India trade, Peter F. Maester fitted the ship out in London. The East India Company accepted Diana on 19 February 1805 for three voyages at a rate calculated against a stated 600-ton capacity, with separate wartime provisions. The first voyage, commanded by John Eckford, began at Portsmouth in September 1805 and visited Madras and Bengal before returning to Britain in April 1807. The second, under John Marshall, departed in September 1807 and reached Madras and Calcutta. On the return journey in 1809, a gale removed the ship's masts, and Diana reached Plymouth under jury masts before completing the voyage to London. Marshall commanded the third Company voyage from 1810 to 1811. Diana sailed to Madras and Ganjam and returned through St Helena to London. The fourth voyage, commanded by David Bowman, began in May 1812 and included Batavia and Bengal. Diana returned to Blackwall in May 1814. The vessel is absent from some records between 1815 and 1817, and the supplied historical account says it may have been employed as a government transport, without treating that possibility as certain. Diana sailed again for India in July 1817 under Captain Rutter and under a license from the East India Company. It reached Bengal late that year. On the homeward passage in 1818, the vessel suffered serious damage in the Hooghly River area. Contemporary shipping reports said it ran onto John and Mary's Sand on 6 June, initially raising the possibility that it could be refloated. Later reports stated that it returned to Calcutta and was condemned before the end of June. Lloyd's Register later retained the entry with a condemnation notation, although the register continued to carry stale information for some years.

• 1818

  Condemnation in Bengal

  [1]Diana (1799 ship)en.wikipedia.org

  After grounding in the Hooghly River system and suffering severe damage, the ship was condemned at Calcutta.

• 1817

  Licensed voyage to India

  [1]Diana (1799 ship)en.wikipedia.org

  Diana sailed for India under a license from the East India Company, commanded by Captain Rutter.

• 1812

  Fourth East India Company voyage

  [1]Diana (1799 ship)en.wikipedia.org

  Diana sailed toward Batavia and Bengal under Captain David Bowman.

• 1810

  Third East India Company voyage

  [1]Diana (1799 ship)en.wikipedia.org

  The ship departed for Madras and Ganjam on its third chartered voyage.

• 1807

  Second East India Company voyage

  [1]Diana (1799 ship)en.wikipedia.org

  Diana began its second chartered voyage to Madras and Bengal under Captain John Marshall.

• 1805

  Entry into East India Company service

  [1]Diana (1799 ship)en.wikipedia.org

  The vessel was fitted out for the India trade and accepted by the East India Company for three chartered voyages.

• 1799

  Launch and first recorded merchant service

  [1]Diana (1799 ship)en.wikipedia.org

  Diana was launched and entered Lloyd's Register for the London–Jamaica trade, with J. Wilson recorded as master and J. Potts as owner.

A historical British merchant vessel operating first in Atlantic trade and later in long-distance East India Company commerce.

• Merchant ship · 1799

  Diana

  A sailing merchant vessel launched in 1799. Diana first operated in the London–Jamaica trade and later carried cargo on chartered East India Company voyages to Madras, Bengal, and Batavia. The historical references associate the vessel with a 600-ton charter basis, although a separate confirmed tonnage specification is not provided.

• 1805

  Shift into East India Company charter tradeStrategy

  Background

  After beginning in the Atlantic merchant trade, Diana was fitted out for the London–India route as the East India Company expanded its chartered shipping operations.

  Action taken

  The Company accepted Diana for three voyages under a negotiated freight arrangement and wartime provisions.

  Aftermath

  Diana completed four Company voyages between 1805 and 1814 and later made a licensed voyage to India.

  Charter freight rate. £14 13s per ton for 600 tons peace freight; £11 2s per ton for first-voyage war contingencies (1805 charter)

  Source

1. 1Diana (1799 ship)en.wikipedia.org