Whim (1799 schooner)

Whim was launched by Francis Barnard, Son & Roberts at Deptford on 23 January 1799,[1] "under the particular inspection of the late Robert Charnock Esq. for his private use, copper fastened and coppered, the beams iron kneed."[8] Captain John Ramsden received a letter of marque for Whim on 9 May 1799.[5] He then sailed her to India.

On 15 November 1800 Captain Andrew Barclay received a letter of marque.[5] On 23 November she sailed for Madras, leaving Spithead on 7 December. She arrived at Madras on 16 April 1801. She left Madras for Britain on 6 August and under the command of Captain John H. Fellers, and arrived at The Downs on 25 November.[2] The EIC advertised the sale on 8 January 1802 of rice brought by its ships, including Whim.[9]

In 1802 the EIC sold Whim to Captain T. Smith & Partners as the EIC no longer required her.[1] Lloyd's Register for 1802 showed her master changing from "Tellfer" to J. Smith, and her trade becoming London-Cape of Good Hope.[4]

Whim sailed on 24 October 1802. Lloyd's Register for 1803 now gave her trade as London-South Georgia,[10] consistent with her leaving on a whaling voyage. In December, Whim stopped at Rio de Janeiro for water and provisions.[11]

On 16 April 1804 the French privateer Nicholas Surcouf, in Caroline, was on his way to Île de France when he captured Whim.[lower-alpha 1] Five days later, Surcouf captured Unicorn off St Helena as Unicorn was returning from the South Seas.[lower-alpha 2] Surcouf plundered both vessels of their cargoes, transferred Unicorn's crew to Whim, and then released Whim,[15] against a ransom of 4000 piastres.[16] Whim's lost cargo consisted of 6000 seal skins and eight barrels of elephant seal oil.[16] Whim sailed to St Helena where she was reported in May,[11] and she returned to Britain on 15 July.[lower-alpha 3]

By April 1805 Whim was lying moored off Horsleydown in the Pool of London and for sale by auction on 10 April at Lloyd's Coffee House in Cornhill.[8] She failed to sell at auction and continued to be offered for sale until at least October that year.[17]

Although Lloyd's Register carries Whim as whaling at South Georgia into 1806, there is no evidence of her making any other whaling voyages.[lower-alpha 4] Lloyd's Register for 1806 shows a change of master and ownership, but both are illegible.[6] Whim, Forbes, master, was reported to have arrived at Dover in September 1806, having sailed with a fleet from Gibraltar on 24 August after having departed Algiers. She separated from the fleet on 12 September.[19]

Lloyd's Register for 1807 shows the new master as Forbes, A. Dalziel as owner, and a trade of London-Algiers.[7] In subsequent years masters change, with Dalziel being master in 1811. In 1812 ownership changes to Bold & Co., with J. Portis, master, and trade Liverpool-Africa.[20]

Whim was reported to have been at "Princes" around the end of 1818. She had been plundered and lost a boat and four hands at Benin Bar.[21]

Masters changed, but from 1819 on, Lloyd's Register shows Whim at Plymouth with Bold & Co. as owners, and S. Grillan as master.[22] Whim is last listed in 1822.

• Clayton, Jane M (2014). Ships employed in the South Sea Whale Fishery from Britain: 1775–1815: An alphabetical list of ships. Berforts Group. ISBN 9781908616524.
• Hackman, Rowan (2001). Ships of the East India Company. Gravesend, Kent: World Ship Society. ISBN 0-905617-96-7.
• Davies, J.; Newbury, C.W. (1961). The History of the Tahitian Mission, 1799-1830. Hakluyt Society. Works, second series. Published for the Hakluyt Society at the University Press. ISBN 978-1-4094-1483-4.
• Roman, Alain (2007). Robert Surcouf et ses frères [Robert Surcouf and his brothers] (in French). Preface by Olivier Roellinger. Editions Cristel. ISBN 978-2-84421-050-0. OCLC 159954380.