''Aurora'' was launched at Whitby in 1789. Between 1799 and 1806 she made four voyages as a

whaler A whaler or whaling ship is a specialized vessel, designed or adapted for whaling: the catching or processing of whales. Terminology The term ''whaler'' is mostly historic. A handful of nations continue with industrial whaling, and one, Japa ...

to the British southern whale fishery. She was last listed in 1809 with stale data since her whaling voyages.

Career

There is some ambiguity around ''Aurora''s launch year. Neither the ''Register of Shipping'' (''RS''), nor ''

Lloyd's Register Lloyd's Register Group Limited (LR) is a technical and professional services organisation and a maritime classification society, wholly owned by the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, a UK charity dedicated to research and education in science and ...

'' (''LR'') provided one. The most complete account of Whitby vessels gave her launch year as 1789, with owner F. Easterby. ''Aurora'' first appeared in the ''RS'' in 1800 with J.Bevan, master, Mellish & Co. owner, and trade London–South Seas. It gave her origin simply as "British", and stated that she had undergone a thorough repair. By the 1802 volume the ''RS'' showed ''Auroras master as Massey, her origin as Whitby, and her having undergone the thorough repair in 1799. ''Aurora'' first appeared in ''LR'' in 1801 with S. Macey, master, Millen & Co., owner, and trade London–Southern Fishery. Peter Mellish owned ''Aurora'' for all four of her whaling voyages.British Southern Whale Fishery – Voyages: ''Aurora'' (voyages BV0087.00–BV0087.30).
/ref> 1st whaling voyage (1799–1801): Captain Stephen Macey (or Macy, or Massey) sailed from London on 3 May 1799, bound for Walvis Bay. ''Aurora'' returned to London on 15 April 1801. 2nd whaling voyage (1801–1802): Captain James Birnie acquired a letter of marque on 2 June 1801. ''Aurora'' left England on 23 June, and returned on 4 July 1804. 3rd whaling voyage (1803–1804): Captain Thomas Gray (or Gay, or Thomas Goyes), sailed from England on 21 February 1803. He sailed during the

Peace of Amiens The Treaty of Amiens (french: la paix d'Amiens, ) temporarily ended hostilities between France and the United Kingdom at the end of the War of the Second Coalition. It marked the end of the French Revolutionary Wars; after a short peace it se ...

and so did not acquire a letter of marque. ''Aurora'' returned on 6 April 1804. 4th whaling voyage (1804–1806): Captain Peter Long acquired a letter of marque on 4 July 1804. On 4 September 1804, Captain Peleg Long sailed from England. reported that ''Aurora'' had been at

Saint Helena Saint Helena () is a British overseas territory located in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is a remote volcanic tropical island west of the coast of south-western Africa, and east of Rio de Janeiro in South America. It is one of three constitu ...

on 26 March 1806, having arrived from Brazil with 200 barrels of

sperm oil Sperm oil is a waxy liquid obtained from sperm whales. It is a clear, yellowish liquid with a very faint odor. Sperm oil has a different composition from common whale oil, obtained from rendered blubber. Although it is traditionally called an " ...

and 300 barrels of whale oil. At St Helena ''Aurora'' also took on part of the cargo of oil from , which intended to continue to seek out whales.''Lloyd's List'' №4057.
/ref> ''Aurora'' returned to England on 10 June 1806.

Fate

''Aurora'' was last listed in 1809 with stale data since her whaling voyages.

Notes

Citations

References

* * {{cite book, last=Weatherill, first= Richard , year=1908 , title=The ancient port of Whitby and its shipping, location=Whitby, publisher= Horne and Son 1789 ships Ships built in Whitby Age of Sail merchant ships of England Whaling ships