Queen Charlotte (1802 ship)

Queen Charlotte was a smack launched in 1802 in Berwick for the Old Ship Company of Berwick. She repelled in 1804 the attack of a French privateer in a single-ship action. A collier ran Queen Charlotte down and sank her on 26 October 1826.

For other ships with the same name, see Queen Charlotte (ship).

A vessel believed to be the Leith smack Queen Charlotte; John Christian Schetky (British, 1778–1874)[lower-alpha 1]
History
United Kingdom
NameQueen Charlotte
OperatorOld Ship Company[lower-alpha 2]
BuilderGowan, Berwick[2]
Launched1802
FateSunk 26 October 1827
General characteristics
Tons burthen136 (bm)
Sail planSmack
Armament6 × 18-pounder carronades + 2 (or 4) × 4-pounder guns

Career

The Old Shipping Company of Leith painted a white strip on the hulls of its vessels. This resulted in their vessels being known as "White siders". Vessels belonging to other companies followed different colour schemes.[3]

Queen Charlotte first appeared in Lloyd's Register (LR) in 1802.[4] The Old Ship Company advertised that she had been armed by the government.[5] The government had a program of arming merchantmen to enable them to protect themselves from French privateers.

Year Master Owner Trade Source
1802 Wm. Nesbitt Old Ship Company Leith–London LR

On 24 January 1804, the packet Queen Charlotte, under the command of William Nisbett and belonging to the Old Shipping Company, of Berwick, encountered a French privateer cutter of 14 guns. The privateer fired a shot and called on Nisbet to surrender. Nisbett fired back and an engagement of more than an hour and a half ensued before the privateer sailed away empty-handed. In the fight, Nisbett and another seaman were wounded.[1]

The carronades were mounted on the non-recoil principal. Nisbett reported that he would have liked more guns, but that Queen Charlotte's armament was sufficient to have protected other trading vessels.[6] The owners of the company gave Captain Nesbit a reward of £105.

Year Master Owner Trade Source & notes
1805 Wm. Nesbitt Old Ship Company Leith–London LR
1820 Wm. Nesbitt Old Ship Company Leith–London LR; good repair 1813
1827 G.Crabb Old Ship Company London coaster LR; good repair 1813 & 1821

Fate

Queen Charlotte, James Nicholson, master, left Leith on 16 October 1827 with 11 passengers and 76 puncheons of "superior whisky" destined for a "gude Scott" of London. On 27 October the collier Silvia (or Sylvan), of Shields ran into her off Lowestoffe and cut her in half. Nicholson barely had time to get his crew and passengers aboard Silvia before Queen Charlotte sank without a trace.[7]

Notes
  1. Schetky and Captain William Nisbet of Queen Charlotte were friends. Schetky made frequent summer voyages from London to Edinburgh aboard Queen Charlotte. In 1837, Schetky also made a water colour of the action when she repelled an attack by a French privateer.
  2. The London and Leith Old Ship Company had been founded in Berwick but transferred to Leith early in the 19th century.[1]

Citations
  1. Martine (1888), pp. 2–3.
  2. Berwick Built Ships - 1800-1840.
  3. Norfolk tales and myths.
  4. LR (1802), "P" supple. pages.
  5. Caledonian Mercury (Edinburgh, Scotland), 28 May 1808; Issue 13484.
  6. Morriss (2020).
  7. "Loss Of The Queen Charlotte Leith Smack". Times (London, England), 29 October 1827; pg. 2; Issue 13422.

References
  • Martine, John (1888). Reminiscences of Port and Town of Leith.
  • Morriss, Roger (2020). Science, Utility and British Naval Technology, 1793–1815: Samuel Bentham and the Royal Dockyards. Routledge.
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