Royalist (schooner)

The ''Royalist'' was a 142-ton topsail schooner. She was probably built in Cowes in 1834 as a gentleman's yacht for Rev T.L. Lane. James Brooke purchased her in 1836 with money he had inherited from his father. Brooke intended to use it for an expedition to the East Indies in the course of a circumnavigation of the globe, in preparation for which he cruised in the Mediterranean in 1837. As a vessel of the Royal Yacht Squadron it was permitted to fly the White Ensign and be accorded the same rights as ships of the Royal Navy. When armed, with "6 six-pounders, a number of swivels, and small arms in abundance," ''Royalist'' was effectively a private warship.

''Royalist'' played an instrumental role in establishing Brooke's foothold in Sarawak, from his first visit in 1839 until he became the first White Rajah of Sarawak in 1841. ''Royalist'' was recorded in Brunei in September 1843, and is said to have been sold early in 1844.

It appears that ''Royalist'' retained her name and ended up trading, after some time in the Sandwich Islands trade, in Auckland, New Zealand, before being wrecked at Kawhia on 11 December 1854, when she was carrying a cargo of timber and wheat.contemporary newspaper advertisements and reports
/ref>

In modern Sarawak, there are several references to this well known ship, such as The Royalist Pub in Kuching.

Citations

References

*

1834 ships
Raj of Sarawak
Individual sailing yachts
Vessels of the Royal Yacht Squadron
Age of Sail ships of England
Ships built on the Isle of Wight
Schooners
Ships of Malaysia

{{ship-stub