# Transport vessels for the British invasion of the Dutch Cape Colony (1805–1806)

In autumn 1805 a small naval squadron under the orders of Commodore Sir Home Popham escorted a fleet of transports and East Indiamen carrying some 5000 soldiers under the command of Major-general Sir David Baird to attack the Dutch at the Cape of Good Hope. The fleet assembled at Madeira and touched at St. Salvador to replenish supplies. The expedition sailed again on the 26 November, and on 4 January 1806, in the evening, anchored to the west of Robben Island, preparatory to taking the Dutch colony.
The lists below are those that Commodore Home Riggs Popham provided to William Marsden, First Secretary of the Admiralty.

## Vessels sailing for the British East India Company

These vessels were carrying the 59th Regiment of Foot and recruits for various regiments in India. After the capture of the Cape these vessels sailed on to India or China.
* Britannia (1772 EIC ship) – lost on the expedition
* Comet (1800 ship)
* Euphrates (1803 EIC ship)
* Europe (1803 EIC ship)
* Glory (1802 ship)
* Jane, Duchess of Gordon (1805 EIC ship)
* Maria (1804 ship)
* Northampton (1801 ship)
* Northumberland (1805 EIC ship)
* Sarah Christiana (1798 ship)
* Streatham (1805 EIC ship)
* Union (1801 ship)
* Sir William Pulteney (1802 ship)
* Varuna (1796 ship)
* William Pitt (1803 ship)
* William Pitt (1805 EIC ship)
After the Dutch Governor Jansens signed a capitulation on 18 January 1806, and the British established control of the Cape Colony, Belliqueux escorted William Pitt, Jane Dutchess of Gordon, Sir William Pulteney, and Comet to Madras. The convoy included Northampton, Streatham, Europe, Union, Glory, and Sarah Christiana.

## Transports

Apart from the EIC vessels, the expedition employed a large number of transports specifically for the expedition. These vessels carried the 93rd, 38th, and 24th Regiments of Foot, the Royal Artillery, and dismounted dragoons. The data on burthens and post-invasion disposition comes from Theal.
| Vessel | Burthen | Post-invasion disposition |
| Agnes† | 230 | 21 March convoy to UK with invalids and Dutch prisoners |
| Amphitrite‡ | 288 | 28 February sailed as cartel to Holland |
| Anacreon (1800 ship)† | 448 | 11 March sailed as cartel with prisoners from Volontaire |
| Anne | 319 | Sailed 10 March for England with dispatches |
| Atlas (1801 ship) | 435 | Sailed 13 March as a cartel with the crews of the captured ships Atalanta and Napoleon |
| Bellona (1782 ship)‡ | 472 | Sailed 28 February as cartel to Holland |
| Charlotte (1784 ship) | 338 | 11 March sailed as cartel with prisoners from Volontaire |
| Elisha (or Eliza) Tupper‡ | 272 | Sailed 28 February as cartel to Holland |
| Elizabeth† | 251 | Sailed with 21 March convoy to UK with invalids and Dutch prisoners |
| Fame† | 285 | Sailed with 21 March convoy to UK with invalids and Dutch prisoners |
| Francis and Eliza (1782 ship)‡ | 347 | Sailed 28 February as cartel to Holland |
| Harbinger | 365 | Sailed 13 March as a cartel with the crews of Atalanta and Napoleon |
| Harlequin† | 220 | Sailed with 21 March convoy to UK with invalids and Dutch prisoners |
| Harriet‡ (or Harriot) | 387 | Sailed 28 February as cartel to Holland |
| Indefatigable (1799 ship)† | 549 | Sailed with 21 March convoy to UK with invalids and Dutch prisoners |
| Indefatigable (C)† | 217 | Sailed with 21 March convoy to UK with invalids and Dutch prisoners |
| Jack | 151 | Sailed 21 March with dispatches for Barbados |
| King George | | Lost outward bound on the expedition |
| Majestic | 377 | Sailed for Madras 9 February with EIC troops to return with rice and wheat for the colony |
| Melantho | 289 | Reserved for general service |
| Messenger† | 217 | Sailed with 21 March convoy to UK with invalids and Dutch prisoners |
| Ocean | 430 | Reserved for general service |
| Paragon (1800 Whitby ship) | 394 | Sailed 7 February for Algoa Bay with troops to load lumber for military works |
| Sea Horse (1782 ship) | 293 | Sailed 20 January with dispatches for England |
| Simpson | 354 | Sailed for Madras 9 February with EIC troops to return with rice and wheat for the colony |
| Sir John Borlase Warren (1800 ship)‡ | 360 | Sailed 28 February as cartel to Holland |
| Traveller† | 244 | Sailed with 21 March convoy to UK with invalids and Dutch prisoners |
| Triton | 443 | Reserved for general service |
| Union | 292 | Sailed 28 February as cartel to Holland‡ |
| Walker | 357 | 21 March loading with provisions |
| Wellington | 339 | Reserved for general service |
| Whitby | 336 | Sailed 28 February to India to get grain for the colony |
| William | 447 | Sailed for Madras 9 February with EIC troops to return with rice and wheat for the colony |
| Zephyr | 342 | 21 March loading with artillery and stores for False Bay |
* The 17 vessels in this table and the next with "†" by their name sailed back to Great Britain in convoy under escort by now HMS Volontaire.
* The seven vessels with "‡" by their name sailed as cartels, repatriating to Holland the Dutch troops captured at the Cape, and their dependents.

## Other

| Vessel | Burthen | Role | Post-invasion disposition |
| Albion (1802 ship)† | 201 | General baggage and horses | 21 March convoy to UK with invalids and Dutch prisoners |
| Golden Grove† | 102 | Victualer | 21 March convoy to UK with invalids and Dutch prisoners |
| Juno (1793 ship) | 239 | Victualer | Sailed 11 March to Plettenberg Bay to load with timber |
| Sarah† | 572 | Hospital and medical stores | 21 March convoy to UK with invalids and Dutch prisoners |
| Wilding (1788 ship)† | 282 | Victualer | 21 March convoy to UK with invalids and Dutch prisoners |

## Citations

* 1 2 3 Theal (1899), pp. 242–4.
* ↑ Lloyd's List, №4059..
* ↑ Theal (1899), p. 384.
* 1 2 Theal (1899), p. 360.