Taunton Castle (1790 EIC ship)

East Indiaman Taunton Castle, Captain James Urnston, Built by Mr Barnard for Sir Benjamin Hammet, 1790, Thomas Whitcombe (c.1752–1824); Somerset Museums Service
History
East India Company Ensign United Kingdom
NameTaunton Castle
NamesakeTaunton Castle
Owner
  • EIC voyages 1-6: Peter Esdaile[1][Note 1]
  • EIC voyages:7-9 Andrew Timbrell[1]
BuilderWilliam Barnard, Deptford,
Launched23 October 1790[2]
FateSold 1803
General characteristics
Tons burthen1209,[1] or 120993⁄94,[2] or 1246[3] (bm)
Length
  • Overall: 165 ft 5 in (50.4 m);
  • Keel: 134 ft 2+3⁄4 in (40.9 m)[1]
Beam41 ft 2 in (12.5 m)[1]
Depth of hold17 ft 1 in (5.2 m)[1]
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Complement
Armament
  • 1794:36 × 12&4-pounder guns[3]
  • 1798:26 × 12&6-pounder guns[3]
  • 1801:26 × 12&6-pounder guns[3]
  • 1804:26 × 6&12-pounder guns[3]
  • 1807:32 × 12&18-pounder guns + 2 swivel guns[3]
  • 1811:32 × 12&18-pounder guns + 3 swivel guns[3]
NotesThree decks

Taunton Castle was launched on the River Thames in 1790 as an East Indiaman. She made nine voyages for the British East India Company (EIC) before she was broken up in 1813. In 1797, on her third trip, she was one of a fleet of six East Indiamen that bluffed a squadron of six French frigates into fleeing.

  1. ^ a b c d e f British Library: Taunton Castle.
  2. ^ a b Hackman (2001), p.201.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Letter of Marque, p.89 - accessed 25 July 2017.


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