Alfred (1790 EIC ship)

For other ships with the same name, see Alfred (East Indiaman).

History
East India Company EnsignGreat Britain
NameAlfred
Owner
  • EIC voyage #1:James Farquharson[1]
  • EIC voyages 2-6:William Fraser
  • EIC voyages 7-8:Andrew Timbrell
OperatorBritish East India Company
BuilderTodd & Pitcher, Northfleet
Launched16 October 1790[2]
FateSold 1812
General characteristics [1]
Tons burthen1,211, or 1,21146⁄94,[2] or 1255[3] (bm)
Length165 ft 2+1⁄2 in (50.4 m) (overall), 134 ft 0 in (40.8 m) (keel)
Beam41 ft 5 in (12.6 m)
Depth of hold17 ft 2+1⁄2 in (5.2 m)
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Complement
Armament
  • 1794: 26 × 9&6-pounder guns[3]
  • 1803:28 × 12-pounder guns[3]
  • 1806:32 × 12&18-pounder guns + two swivel guns[3]
NotesThree decks

Alfred was launched in 1790 as an East Indiaman for the British East India Company (EIC). She made eight voyages for the EIC before she was sold. She participated in two notable incidents in which East Indiamen bluffed superior French naval forces from engaging. In January 1797, on her third voyage, in the Bali Strait Alfred and five other Indiamen sent off a French squadron of six frigates without a shot being fired. In February 1804, at Pulo Aura, during her sixth voyage she participated in a notable engagement with a French squadron. After her last voyage for the EIC Alfred served as a storeship and a hulk.

  1. ^ a b British Library: Alfred (2).
  2. ^ a b Hackman (2001), p. 58.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Cite error: The named reference LoM was invoked but never defined (see the help page).