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Nonsuch (1781 Ship)
''Nonsuch'' was launched at Calcutta in 1781 as the first large vessel built there. She was designed to serve as either a merchantman or a man-of-war. She spent the first 12 years of her career as a merchant vessel, carrying opium to China amongst other cargoes. After the outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars in 1793 her owner frequently hired her out as an armed ship to the British East India Company (EIC). She participated in an engagement with a French naval squadron and recaptured an East Indiaman. She also made two voyages for the EIC. After the Peace of Amiens in 1802 the EIC paid her off; as she was being hauled into a dockyard for repairs she was damaged and the decision was taken to break her up. Origins Lieutenant colonel Henry Watson built ''Nonsuch'' in 1781 at the shipyard he had constructed at Kidderpore. Watson was chief engineer under Warren Hastings' government. Hastings was the first Governor of the Presidency of Fort William (Bengal). ''Nonsuch'' was the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Thomas Whitcombe
Thomas Whitcombe (possibly 19 May 1763 – c. 1824) was a prominent British marine art, maritime painter of the Napoleonic Wars. Among his work are over 150 actions of the Royal Navy, and he exhibited at the Royal Academy, the British Institution and the Royal Society of British Artists. His pictures are highly sought after today. Life Thomas Whitcombe was born in London between 1752 and 19 May 1763, with the latter date frequently cited. Little is known of his background or training, although speculation based on the locations depicted in his paintings may provide some clues. It is known that he was in Bristol in 1787 and later travelled to the South Coast; there are few ports or harbours from this region that do not feature in his work. In 1789 he toured Wales and in 1813 he travelled to Devon, painting scenes around Plymouth harbour. During his career he also painted scenes showing the Cape of Good Hope, Madeira, Cuba and Cape Horn. Between 1783 and 1824 he lived in London ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Spanish Dollar
The Spanish dollar, also known as the piece of eight ( es, Real de a ocho, , , or ), is a silver coin of approximately diameter worth eight Spanish reales. It was minted in the Spanish Empire following a monetary reform in 1497 with content 25.563 g = 0.822 oz t fine silver. It was widely used as the first world currency, international currency because of its uniformity in standard and milling characteristics. Some countries countermarked the Spanish dollar so it could be used as their local currency. Because the Spanish dollar was widely used in Europe, the Americas, and the Far East, it became the first world currency by the late 18th century. The Spanish dollar was the coin upon which the original United States dollar was based (at 0.7735 oz t = 24.0566 g), and it remained legal tender in the United States until the Coinage Act of 1857. Many other currencies around the world, such as the Japanese yen and the Yuan (currency), Chinese yuan, were initially based on the Span ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Diamond Harbour
Diamond Harbour () is a town and a municipality of the South 24 Parganas district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is situated on the eastern banks of the Hooghly River. It is the headquarters of the Diamond Harbour subdivision. History Diamond Harbour was originally known as ''Hajipur'', as it was situated on the banks of the Hajipur creek. The name Diamond Harbour was applied by the British, who used it for both river and sea shipping. Geography Area overview Diamond Harbour subdivision is a rural subdivision with patches of urbanisation. Only 14.61% of the population lives in the urban areas and an overwhelming 85.39% lives in the rural areas. In the western portion of the subdivision (shown in the map alongside) there are 11 census towns. The entire district is situated in the Ganges Delta and the western part, located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, is covered by the Kulpi Diamond Harbour Plain, which is 5–6 metres above sea level. Archaeological excava ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
French Frigate Cybèle (1789)
''Cybèle'' was a 40-gun frigate of the French Navy. Career Sunda Strait campaign of January 1794 In May 1792, under Captain Armand de Saint-Félix, ''Cybèle'' departed Brest, bound for Port Louis, where she arrived in December 1792. She cruised off the Malabar, Mahé and Pondichéry. In 1794, ''Cybèle'' was part of a frigate division under Jean-Marie Renaud, along with ''Prudente''. She took part in the Sunda Strait campaign of January 1794. During the Sunda Strait campaign the squadron captured the East Indiaman . She also participated in the action of 22 October 1794 off Ile de France under Pierre Julien Tréhouart. Robert Surcouf volunteered to serve as an officer for the action and earned his first command for his behaviour on that day. In 1796 she took part in patrols in the Indian Ocean in Admiral Sercey's squadron, notably taking part in the action of 8 September 1796. Returned to France, she was twice refitted in Rochefort, first from 29 April 1798 and later ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
French Frigate Prudente (1790)
The ''Prudente'' was a 32-gun ''Capricieuse''-class frigate of the French Navy. Career In 1791, under lieutenant Villaret de Joyeuse, she was tasked with ferrying troops to Cap-Français and with police duty in Santo Domingo. In 1793, she returned to France, escorting a convoy from Terre-Neuve, under Villaret de Joyeuse, by then promoted to Captain. In 1794, she was the flagship of a frigate division under Captain Renaud, also comprising ''Cybèle'', under Pierre Julien Tréhouart. She took part in the Sunda Strait campaign of January 1794 and in the action of 22 October 1794 off Ile de France. During the Sunda Strait campaign the squadron captured the East Indiaman ''Pigot''. In 1796, ''Prudente'' was attached to the squadron under Sercey, that had come from France. She served for a time at Mauritius, taking part in the action of 8 September 1796, before being sold and becoming a privateer. Capture captured ''Prudente'' on 9 February 1799 near Table Bay, Cape of G ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Isle Of France (Mauritius)
Isle de France () was the name of the Indian Ocean island which is known as Mauritius and its dependent territories between 1715 and 1810, when the area was under the French East India Company and a part of the French colonial empire. Under the French, the island witnessed major changes. The increasing importance of agriculture led to the importation of slaves and the undertaking of vast infrastructural works that transformed Port Louis into a major capital, port, warehousing, and commercial centre. During the Napoleonic Wars, Isle de France became a base from which the French navy, including squadrons under Rear Admiral Linois or Commodore Jacques Hamelin, and corsairs such as Robert Surcouf, organised raids on British merchant ships. The raids (see Battle of Pulo Aura and Mauritius campaign of 1809–1811) continued until 1810 when the British sent a strong expedition to capture the island. The first British attempt, in August 1810, to attack Grand Port resulted in a Fr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
French Ship Résolue
Numerous French naval vessels have borne the name ''Résolue'', the French for "Resolute", as have several privateers. Naval vessels * was an ''Iphigénie''-class frigate of 32 guns launched in 1778 that the British Royal Navy captured in 1798; she became HMS ''Resolue'', serving as a slops ship and a receiving ship at Portsmouth until she was broken up in 1811. * ''Résolue'' was a frigate obtained in 1784 from the razeed 44-gun ship of the line ''Romulus'', formerly the British HMS ''Romulus'', captured at Chasepeake Bay. * ''Résolue'' was a requisitioned lugger that served in the Mediterranean in 1795. Her fate is currently unknown. * ''Résolue'' was the Spanish xebec ''O Hydra'', that the French captured in 1794, renamed ''Résolue'' in 1795 but then returned to her original name. The British captured her in 1795 and named her ; she was last listed in 1802. * was a ''Pallas''-class frigate launched in 1812 and renamed ''Résolue'' in 1830; she was wrecked in 1833 and brok ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
French Privateer Vengeur
Numerous French privateers have borne the name ''Vengeur'' ("Avenger"): French Revolutionary Wars *''Vengeur'' was a French privateer of 12 guns that captured on 1 October 1793. *''Vengeur'' was a French privateer that captured in the West Indies on 22 February 1794. *''Vengeur'' was a privateer commissioned at Île de France circa September 1793 under Captain Corosin (or Carosin) with 250 men and thirty-four 8&6-pounder guns. The East Indiaman and country ship captured her on 22 January 1794 during the Sunda Strait campaign of January 1794. She had sustained 37 killed and wounded. By one report, the Dutch at Batavia purchased ''Vengeur'' and would send her in July to Mauritius as a cartel with the French prisoners. *''Vengeur'', French privateer cutter of 18 guns and 130 men. ''Lloyd's List'' reported on 22 September 1795 that ''Vengeur'' had captured several British merchant vessels. *''Vengeur'', privateer of 18 guns and 110 men, that captured on 27 October 1796. *''Voltigu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against France. The modern Royal Navy traces its origins to the early 16th century; the oldest of the UK's armed services, it is consequently known as the Senior Service. From the middle decades of the 17th century, and through the 18th century, the Royal Navy vied with the Dutch Navy and later with the French Navy for maritime supremacy. From the mid 18th century, it was the world's most powerful navy until the Second World War. The Royal Navy played a key part in establishing and defending the British Empire, and four Imperial fortress colonies and a string of imperial bases and coaling stations secured the Royal Navy's ability to assert naval superiority globally. Owing to this historical prominence, it is common, even among non-Britons, to ref ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Governor-General Of India
The Governor-General of India (1773–1950, from 1858 to 1947 the Viceroy and Governor-General of India, commonly shortened to Viceroy of India) was the representative of the monarch of the United Kingdom and after Indian independence in 1947, the representative of the British monarch. The office was created in 1773, with the title of Governor-General of the Presidency of Fort William. The officer had direct control only over Fort William but supervised other East India Company officials in India. Complete authority over all of British territory in the Indian subcontinent was granted in 1833, and the official came to be known as the "Governor-General of India". In 1858, because of the Indian Rebellion the previous year, the territories and assets of the East India Company came under the direct control of the British Crown; as a consequence, the Company rule in India was succeeded by the British Raj. The governor-general (now also the Viceroy) headed the central governmen ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Shore, 1st Baron Teignmouth
John Shore, 1st Baron Teignmouth (5 October 1751 – 14 February 1834) was a British official of the East India Company who served as Governor-General of Bengal from 1793 to 1798. In 1798 he was created Baron Teignmouth in the Peerage of Ireland. Shore was the first president of the British and Foreign Bible Society. A close friend of the orientalist Sir William Jones (1746–1794), Shore edited a memoir of Jones's life in 1804, containing many of Jones's letters. Early life Born in St. James's Street, Piccadilly, on 5 October 1751, he was the elder son of Thomas Shore of Melton Place, near Romford, an East India Company employee, by his wife Dorothy, daughter of Captain Shepherd of the Company's naval service. At the age of fourteen Shore was sent to Harrow School. In his seventeenth year Shore was moved to a commercial school at Hoxton for the purpose of learning bookkeeping, to take up an opportunity made for him by the merchant Frederick Pigou, a family friend. To ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Boatswain
A boatswain ( , ), bo's'n, bos'n, or bosun, also known as a deck boss, or a qualified member of the deck department, is the most senior rate of the deck department and is responsible for the components of a ship's hull. The boatswain supervises the other members of the ship's deck department, and typically is not a watchstander, except on vessels with small crews. Additional duties vary depending upon ship, crew, and circumstances. History The word ''boatswain'' has been in the English language since approximately 1450. It is derived from late Old English ''batswegen'', from ''bat'' (''boat'') concatenated with Old Norse ''sveinn'' ('' swain''), meaning a young man, apprentice, a follower, retainer or servant. Directly translated to modern Norwegian it would be ''båtsvenn'', while the actual crew title in Norwegian is ''båtsmann'' ("''boats-man''"). While the phonetic spelling ''bosun'' is reported as having been observed since 1868, this latter spelling was used in Sha ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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