Majestic (1811 ship)
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | Majestic |
| Owner |
|
| Builder | Sunderland |
| Launched | 1811 |
| Fate | Wrecked 16 July 1819 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tons burthen | 393[1] (bm) |
| Armament | 10 guns[1] |
Majestic was launched at Sunderland in 1811. In 1812 she became a whaler in the British northern whale fishery, whaling at Davis Strait. She was lost there on 16 July 1819.
Career[edit]
Majestic entered Lloyd's Register (LR) in 1812 with Lawrence, master, Lane, owner, changing to Mellish, and trade London, changing to London–Davis Strait.[1]
On 5 April 1816 Lloyd's List (LL) reported that Majestic, Lawson, master, had sprung a leak and had had to put back to Stromness. She was on her way to Davis Strait and was going to have to discharge to effect repairs.[2] Majestic had arrived at Stromness on 22 March and resumed her voyage on 31 March.[3]
The following data is from Coltish:[4]
| Year | Master | Where | Whales | Tuns whale oil |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1814 | Lawson | Davis Strait | 9 | 137 |
| 1815 | Lawson | Davis Strait | 6 | 70 |
| 1816 | Lawson | Davis Strait | 8 | 128 |
| 1817 | Lawson | Davis Strait | 12 | 170 |
| 1818 | Lawson | Davis Strait | 15 | 201 |
On 3 March 1818, at Lerwick during a heavy gale, Majestic, Lawson, master, drove on board Flora, Swaneson, master. Majestic carried away Flora's rigging and stove in her side.[5]
Fate[edit]
On 8 March 1819, Majestic, Lawson, master, sailed from Gravesend, bound for Davis Strait.[6]
On 16 July 1819, Majestic was crushed by ice and sunk in the Davis Strait. Her crew were rescued.[7] Lloyd's List reported on 24 August 1819 that Ocean, Samuels, Equestria of Hull, Majestic of London, Royal Bounty and Thomas & Ann, both of Leith, and Tey of Dundee, had been lost in Davis Strait. Their crews were saved.[8]
Post script[edit]
In 1824 a harpoon from Majestic in 1819 was recovered from a whale. The harpoon had gotten embedded in the near left fin.[9]
Citations[edit]
- ^ a b c LR (1812), Supple. pages "M", Seq.№M1.
- ^ LL №5063.
- ^ LL №5066.
- ^ Coltish (c. 1842).
- ^ LL №5263.
- ^ LL №5367, Ship arrivals and departure (SAD) data.
- ^ "DAVIS'S STRAITS WHALE FISHERY". Caledonian Mercury. No. 15283. 21 August 1819.
- ^ LL №5419.
- ^ Dewhurst (1834), p. 107.
References[edit]
- Coltish, William (c. 1842). An account of the success of the ships at the Greenland and Davis Straits fisheries 1772-1842 inclusive.
- Dewhurst, Henry William (1834). The Natural History of the Order Cetacea: And the Oceanic Inhabitants of the Arctic Regions.