HMS Porpoise (1804)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Porpoise and Lord Melville (ship).

History
Red EnsignUnited Kingdom
NameLord Melville
BuilderTemple shipbuilders, South Shields
Launched1804
FateSold 1804
Royal Navy EnsignUnited Kingdom
NameHMS Porpoise
AcquiredBy purchase c. September 1804
FateSold 1816
United Kingdom
NameLord Melville
OwnerJ.R. Bell & Co.[1]
Acquired1816 by purchase
FateLast listed in 1820
General characteristics [2]
TypeBrig
Tons burthen399, or 400,[3] or 412[4] (bm)
Length
  • 100 ft 1 in (30.5 m) (overall)
  • 78 ft 1 in (23.8 m) (keel)
Beam30 ft 10 in (9.4 m)
Depth of hold13 ft 0 in (4.0 m)
Complement70
Armament

HMS Porpoise was the former mercantile quarter-decked sloop Lord Melville, which the Royal Navy purchased in 1804 to use as a store-ship.

She sailed to the colony of New South Wales in January 1806, arriving seven months later. She was the flagship of William Bligh when he was governor of New South Wales and played a prominent role in the Rum Rebellion. In May 1810 Porpoise sailed from Sydney; after arriving in Britain she underwent a major refit. After voyages to the West Indies, the Cape of Good Hope and North America she served as a harbour ship at Woolwich and Sheerness. She was laid up in 1814 and sold in January 1816.

She then returned to mercantile service under her original name and made one voyage transporting convicts to New South Wales, and a second to Van Diemen's Land. She was last listed in 1820.

  1. ^ Hackman (2001), p. 292.
  2. ^ Winfield (2008), p. 263.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference RS1816 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Bateson (1959), pp. 290–1.