Exeter

Exeter was a large British merchant vessel built for long-distance trade with Asia and launched in 1792 by Perry. She was a three-deck East Indiaman operated in the service of the English East India Company, whose ships carried commercial cargoes between Britain, India, China, and ports in Southeast Asia. Although Exeter was a merchant ship rather than a naval vessel, East Indiamen were heavily armed and often sailed in convoy during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. They were expected to deter piracy and privateering, and many operated under letters of marque that authorized them to capture enemy vessels. Exeter made eight documented voyages. Her first three voyages, under Captain Lestock Wilson, connected Portsmouth with Bombay and China between 1793 and 1799. These voyages took place during wartime and followed routes through the Cape of Good Hope, Bombay, the Straits of Malacca, Whampoa near Canton, Penang, and St Helena. Her second voyage also involved the transport of troops associated with General Alured Clarke’s expedition against the Cape Colony, although the convoy experienced a temporary disruption when the escorting vessel Sphinx collided with Warren Hastings. The ship’s most unusual episode occurred during her fourth voyage, in 1800–1801, when she was commanded by Henry Meriton. Sailing with a convoy protected by the Royal Navy ship of the line Belliqueux, Exeter encountered a French frigate squadron near Trindade. The French commander initially mistook the approaching British convoy for a force of warships. After Belliqueux captured Concorde, Exeter and Bombay Castle pursued Médée. Meriton used lights and the arrangement of Exeter’s gun ports to make the merchantman appear more heavily armed than she was. The French captain surrendered Médée, only discovering afterward that Exeter was a merchant vessel. Médée was later acquired by the Royal Navy as HMS Medee, although it was never commissioned as an active warship. Exeter also participated in the Battle of Pulo Aura on 14 February 1804 during her fifth voyage. She did not exchange fire, but formed part of the East India Company convoy whose defensive maneuvering deterred a stronger French force. The successful return of the convoy led to rewards for the participating officers and crews, including an award to Meriton as one of the captains whose vessels had not directly engaged the enemy. On her sixth voyage, Exeter was again present with a convoy that briefly exchanged fire with the French ship of the line Marengo and the frigate Belle Poule in August 1805. Henry Meriton commanded Exeter for four consecutive voyages and was later recognized as having completed a record twelve East India Company voyages overall. The ship’s final voyage, under Captain James Timbrell, ran to Bombay and back between 1810 and 1811. Exeter returned to the Downs in August 1811 and was sold later that year to be broken up. Her career illustrates the hybrid commercial and military role of East Indiamen: they were built for cargo and long-distance commerce, but their size, armament, convoy operations, and wartime legal status allowed them to take part in maritime conflict.

Exeter was launched in 1792 as a three-deck East Indiaman built by Perry for service in the long-distance trade of the English East India Company. East Indiamen were merchant vessels designed to carry valuable cargoes between Britain and Asia. Their size and appearance could make them resemble naval ships at a distance, while their armament provided protection against pirates, privateers, and enemy commerce raiders. During wartime, ships such as Exeter commonly sailed in convoy and operated under letters of marque, which gave them legal authority to capture hostile vessels. Captain Lestock Wilson commanded Exeter on her first three voyages. The first voyage began at Portsmouth in April 1793 and took the ship to Bombay and Whampoa before her return to the Downs in September 1794. Her second voyage, from 1795 to 1797, included service connected with the movement of troops toward the Cape Colony, followed by calls at Quilon, Bombay, Malacca, Whampoa, Penang, Cape Town, and St Helena. The third voyage, between 1798 and 1799, again linked Britain with Bombay and China. Henry Meriton assumed command for Exeter’s fourth voyage. She left Britain in May 1800 in convoy with several other East Indiamen and under the protection of HMS Belliqueux. Near Trindade, the convoy met a French frigate squadron commanded by Jean-François Landolphe. Belliqueux captured Concorde, while Exeter and Bombay Castle pursued Médée. Meriton arranged lights across Exeter and behind her gun ports to exaggerate the ship’s apparent strength. The ruse contributed to Médée’s surrender. The captured frigate was later purchased by the Royal Navy and renamed HMS Medee, though it served as a prison hulk rather than an operational warship. Exeter’s fifth voyage began in 1803 after the resumption of war following the collapse of the Treaty of Amiens. The ship reached Penang, Malacca, and Whampoa, and on the return journey became part of the convoy involved in the Battle of Pulo Aura on 14 February 1804. The convoy’s merchant captains used disciplined formation and defensive tactics against a French squadron. Exeter did not fire, but her captain was among those later rewarded for the convoy’s safe return. Meriton received 500 guineas and a commemorative plate, while the Lloyd’s Patriotic Fund awarded him a sword. On her sixth voyage, Exeter sailed with a convoy escorted by HMS Blenheim. In August 1805 the convoy encountered the French warships Marengo and Belle Poule, resulting in a short exchange of fire before the opposing forces separated. Exeter completed the voyage through Madras, Penang, Malacca, and Whampoa, returning to Britain in September 1806. Meriton also commanded her seventh voyage, which ran from 1808 to 1809 and again connected Britain with China. The eighth and final voyage was commanded by James Timbrell. Exeter left Portsmouth in May 1810, sailed to Bombay, and returned to the Downs in August 1811. She was sold later in 1811 for breaking up. The vessel’s career combined commercial transportation with wartime convoy duty and privateering authority, reflecting the strategic importance and vulnerability of East India Company shipping during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars.

• 1811

  Final voyage and dismantling

  [1]Exeter (1792 ship)en.wikipedia.org

  After returning from Bombay, Exeter was sold to be broken up.

• 1805

  Encounter with Marengo and Belle Poule

  [1]Exeter (1792 ship)en.wikipedia.org

  Exeter was present during a brief exchange between her convoy and two French warships.

• 1804

  Battle of Pulo Aura

  [1]Exeter (1792 ship)en.wikipedia.org

  Exeter was part of the East Indiaman convoy involved in the Battle of Pulo Aura, although she did not directly engage the enemy.

• 1803

  Fifth voyage during renewed Napoleonic War

  [1]Exeter (1792 ship)en.wikipedia.org

  Exeter left Britain after the collapse of the Treaty of Amiens and resumed armed East India Company convoy operations.

• 1800

  Capture of Médée

  [1]Exeter (1792 ship)en.wikipedia.org

  During her fourth voyage, Exeter helped force the surrender of the French frigate Médée by presenting the appearance of a much larger warship.

• 1795

  Second voyage and troop convoy service

  [1]Exeter (1792 ship)en.wikipedia.org

  Exeter sailed toward Bombay and China and was involved in convoy movements associated with the Cape Colony expedition.

• 1793

  First East India Company voyage

  [1]Exeter (1792 ship)en.wikipedia.org

  Under Captain Lestock Wilson, Exeter departed Portsmouth for Bombay and China.

• 1792

  Launch

  [1]Exeter (1792 ship)en.wikipedia.org

  Perry launched Exeter as a three-deck East Indiaman for the East India Company trade.

A heavily armed, long-range merchant vessel serving the East India Company’s Asian trade during the age of sail.

• East Indiaman · 1792

  Exeter

  A three-deck armed merchant ship built for the East India Company’s long-distance trade. Exeter transported commercial cargo and, on some voyages, supported troop movements and convoy operations. Her wartime equipment and letters of marque allowed her to deter or capture hostile shipping, although she was not designed for sustained combat against naval warships.

• 1804

  Participation in the Pulo Aura convoy defenseOther

  Background

  The East India Company convoy faced a French naval force during the renewed war with France.

  Action taken

  Exeter remained part of the convoy formation and did not directly exchange fire while the merchant fleet carried out its defensive maneuver.

  Aftermath

  The convoy reached safety, and participating captains and crews received rewards. Henry Meriton received 500 guineas and a plate valued at 50 guineas, as well as a sword from the Lloyd’s Patriotic Fund.

  Source

• 1800

  Use of deceptive ship presentation against MédéeStrategy

  Background

  Exeter and other East Indiamen encountered a French frigate squadron while sailing in convoy during wartime.

  Action taken

  Captain Henry Meriton displayed lights and arranged the ship’s visible features to make Exeter appear to be a larger, more powerful warship.

  Aftermath

  Médée surrendered and was later acquired by the Royal Navy. Exeter and associated vessels shared in prize proceeds.

  Source

1. 1Exeter (1792 ship)en.wikipedia.org