# List of shipwrecks in 1781

The List of shipwrecks in 1781 includes some ships sunk, wrecked or otherwise lost during 1781.
table of contents :
| ← 1780 1781 1782 → ||||
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr |
| May | Jun | Jul | Aug |
| Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Unknown date ||||
| References ||||

## January
### 8 January

List of shipwrecks: 8 January 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Douglass | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore in Stokes Bay. |

### 11 January

List of shipwrecks: 11 January 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Neptune | Great Britain | The transport ship was run down and sunk by Sykes ( Great Britain) with the loss of more than twenty lives. She was on a voyage from The Downs to Portsmouth, Hampshire. |

### 22 January

List of shipwrecks: 22 January 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Supply | Great Britain | The ship was wrecked in Start Bay with the loss of all hands. She was on a voyage from Liverpool, Lancashire to London. |

### 23 January

List of shipwrecks: 23 January 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Childers | Great Britain | The privateer was driven ashore at Paignton, Devon. |
| HMS Culloden | Royal Navy | American Revolutionary War: The third rate ship of the line ran aground 50 yards (46 m) off Will′s Point at Montauk, New York, United States, during a gale and snowstorm. After attempts to refloat her failed, she was stripped and in March 1781 she was set on fire to prevent capture. She burned to the waterline, and the remains of her wreck settled in 20 feet (6.1 m) of water. When her wreck was rediscovered in the 1970s, Will's Point was renamed Culloden Point. |
| Mary | France | The ship, a cartel, was driven ashore and damaged at Paignton. She was later refloated. |

### 28 January

List of shipwrecks: 28 January 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Favourite | Great Britain | The privateer was driven ashore at Lymington, Hampshire. She was refloated on 8 February. |
| Nossa Senhora do Pilar e São João Baptista | Portugal | The ship was wrecked at Ceulagh, County Cork, Ireland. She was on a voyage from Lisbon to Dublin, Ireland. |

### 30 January

List of shipwrecks: 30 January 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Theresa | Dutch Republic | The brigantine was driven ashore and wrecked at West Bexington, Dorset, Great Britain. |

### Unknown date

List of shipwrecks: Unknown date 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Johanna Charlotta | Dutch Republic | The ship was lost whilst on a voyage from Ostend to Genoa and Livorno, Grand Duchy of Tuscany. |
| John | Ireland | The ship was driven ashore and wrecked at Beachy Head, Sussex, Great Britain. |
| L'Immaculée Conception | Spain | The ship was lost at Ayamonte with the loss of five of six of her crew. She was on a voyage from St. Andero to Cádiz. |
| Lucente Aurora | Republic of Venice | The ship was wrecked on the Woolpack, in the North Sea. She was on a voyage from Venice and Trieste to London, Great Britain. |
| Madonna Del Lauro & St. Anime Del Purgatorio | Papal States | The ship was lost at "Sassaie", Sardinia. She was on a voyage from Exeter, Devon, Great Britain to Civita Vechia. |
| Newtown | Great Britain | The ship was lost near Liverpool, Lancashire. She was on a voyage from Tingmouth, Devon to Liverpool. |
| Pink | Great Britain | The ship was wrecked on the Abrolho Bank. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from New York, United States to Jamaica. |
| Racehorse | Great Britain | The schooner was driven ashore and wrecked at Beachy Head. |
| Southampton | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore and wrecked at Beachy Head. |
| Spitfire | Great Britain | The privateer foundered in the English Channel off Start Point, Devon. |
| HMS Syren | Royal Navy | The Porcupine-class post ship was driven ashore and wrecked at Beachy Head. |

## February
### 2 February

List of shipwrecks: 2 February 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Samuel | Great Britain | The ship sank and capsized in the River Thames. She was on a voyage from London to Jamaica. |

### 7 February

List of shipwrecks: 7 February 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Maria Margaretha | Denmark | The ship was crushed by ice off Elsinore. She later came ashore near Halmstad, Sweden. Maria Margaretha was on a voyage from Copenhagen to Saint Thomas, Virgin Islands. |
| Princess Louisa | Denmark | The ship was driven ashore on the Swedish coast. She was on a voyage from Copenhagen to Saint Croix. Princess Louisa was later refloated and taken in to Copenhagen for repairs. |
| São Boaventura | Portugal | The ship was wrecked on "Masamaede Island", off Madagascar. She was on a voyage from Lisbon to the Malabar Coast. |

### 11 February

List of shipwrecks: 11 February 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Echo | Great Britain | The brig was driven ashore and wrecked in Deadman's Bay. Her crew were rescued. |
| Nimble | Great Britain | The cutter was wrecked in Mount's Bay with the loss of 28 of her 59 crew. |
| Thames | Great Britain | The victualling ship was driven ashore and wrecked at Plymouth Hoe, Devon. Her crew were rescued. |

### 12 February

List of shipwrecks: 12 February 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Esther | Great Britain | The stores ship was in collision with HM hired armed ship Raike ( Royal Navy) and foundered in The Downs with the loss of two or three of her crew. |

### 13 February

List of shipwrecks: 13 February 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Amsterdam | Sweden | The brigantine was driven ashore and wrecked at West Bexington, Dorset, Great Britain with the loss of five of her crew and a passenger. She was on a voyage from Naples, Kingdom of Sicily to London, Great Britain. |

### 16 February

List of shipwrecks: 16 February 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| General Barker | British East India Company | The East Indiaman was lost off Scheveningen, on the Dutch coast. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from the East Indies to London. |

### 22 February

List of shipwrecks: 22 February 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Fame | United States | The privateer foundered in the Atlantic Ocean off Peck's Beach, New Jersey. |

### 26 February

List of shipwrecks: 26 February 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Duke William | Great Britain | The transport ship was wrecked on Barbuda. |

### Unknown date

List of shipwrecks: Unknown date 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Ann | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore near Rye, Sussex. She was on a voyage from Londonderry, Ireland to London. |
| Blandford | Great Britain | The ship was lost at Newry, County Antrim, Ireland. |
| Carpenter | Great Britain | The ship foundered in the Swin. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Liverpool, Lancashire to London. |
| Dutchess | Great Britain | The privateer was in collision with Houghton ( Great Britain) and foundered in The Downs with some loss of life. |
| Experiment | Great Britain | The privateer was in collision with another vessel in The Downs and foundered. Her crew were rescued. |
| Fernought | Great Britain | The privateer struck a rock and foundered in the Firth of Forth. Her crew were rescued |
| Free Trade | Great Britain | The privateer was driven ashore and wrecked at Newry. |
| Henry & Maria | France | Anglo-French War (1778–83): The ship, a prize, was driven ashore near Wexford, Ireland. |
| Hope | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore on the coast of France. She was on a voyage from Tobago to London. |
| L'Aimea | France | Anglo-French War (1778-1783): The ship, a prize, was lost on the French coast. She was on a voyage from Penzance, Cornwall, Great Britain to Jersey, Channel Islands. |
| Mary Ann | Great Britain | The ship was lost near Bristol, Gloucestershire. She was on a voyage from Plymouth, Devon to Bristol. |
| London | Great Britain | The ship was lost with all hands. She was on a voyage from Liverpool, Lancashire to London. |
| New Judith | Ireland | The ship was wrecked near Wexford. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Newry to Cork and the West Indies. |
| New Newry Paquet | Ireland | The ship was driven ashore at Newry. She was on a voyage from Newry to London. |
| Prince of Wales | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore and wrecked at Pegwell Bay, Kent. She was on a voyage from London to Dublin, Ireland. |
| Rodney | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore at Southampton, Hampshire. |
| St. Antonio de Lisboa | Portugal | The ship was lost near Castle Town, Isle of Man. She was on a voyage from Lisbon to Dublin. |
| Thetis | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore and wrecked near Cromer, Norfolk. She was on a voyage from Aberdeen to London. |
| William & Ann | Ireland | The ship was wrecked near Beerhaven, County Cork. She was on a voyage from Greenock, Renfrewshire, Great Britain to Cork. |
| Zee Fortune | Dutch Republic | Fourth Anglo-Dutch War The ship, a prize, was lost off Wexford with the loss of all hands. |

## March
### 30 March

List of shipwrecks: 30 March 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Black Prince | France | The ship, a prize of HMS Cruizer and HMS Lively (both Royal Navy), was driven ashore and wrecked at Falmouth, Cornwall, Great Britain. Her crew were rescued. |
| Dutchess de Chartres | French East India Company | The East Indiaman, a prize of the privateer Phœnix ( Great Britain) was driven ashore and wrecked at Falmouth with the loss of a crew member. |

### Unknown date

List of shipwrecks: Unknown date 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Charlotte | Great Britain | The ship was wrecked on the coast of France. She was on a voyage from London to Naples and Messina, Kingdom of Sicily. |
| Fame | Great Britain | The ship foundered in the English Channel off Dover, Kent. She was on a voyage from London to Dublin, Ireland. |
| Hope | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore and wrecked on the coast of Cornwall. She was on a voyage from London to Belfast, Ireland. |
| Immaenlata Concezione | flag unknown | The ship was wrecked on the coast of Portugal. She was on a voyage from Falmouth, Cornwall, Great Britain to a Mediterranean port. |
| "La Guepe" | French Navy | American Revolutionary War:The 14 gun cutter ran aground on mud flats and was wrecked near Cape Charles while pursuing a British privateer. Her crew was rescued. |
| L'Amiene del Purgatorio | flag unknown | The ship was wrecked on the coast of Portugal. She was on a voyage from St. Ives, Cornwall to a Mediterranean port. |
| Le Lenier | France | The ship was lost in the Ratt, off Brest. She was on a voyage from Bourdeaux to the West Indies. |
| Minte au Ciel | France | The ship was lost in the Ratt. She was on a voyage from Bourdeaux to the West Indies. |
| Penelope | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore and wrecked at Ramsgate, Kent. She was on a voyage from London to Halifax, Nova Scotia, British America. |
| Success | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore near Chichester, Sussex. She was on a voyage from Dublin, Ireland to London. |

## April
### 10 April

List of shipwrecks: 10 April 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Ann | Great Britain | The sloop was driven ashore on Sanday, Orkney Islands. She was on a voyage from Bergen, Norway to Kirkwall, Orkney Islands. |

### 11 April

List of shipwrecks: 11 April 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Nossa Senhora do Carmo a Dolphin | Portugal | The ship capsized at Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Great Britain. She had been on a voyage from Lisbon to Amsterdam, Dutch Republic but had put into Tenby. |

### 13 April

List of shipwrecks: 13 April 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Johanna | Sweden | The ship was wrecked on Anholt, Denmark. Her crew survived. She was on a voyage from Bourdeaux, France to Stockholm. |

### 14 April

List of shipwrecks: 14 April 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Hawke | Great Britain | The ship struck rocks at Bermuda and was wrecked. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Glasgow, Renfrewshire to Bermuda. |

### 21 April

List of shipwrecks: 21 April 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Bee | Great Britain | Anglo-French War (1778–83): The ship was driven ashore at Aldeburgh, Suffolk by two French privateers and was captured. She was taken to a French port. Bee had been on a voyage from Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire to Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. |

### 28 April

List of shipwrecks: 28 April 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Hopkins | Great Britain | The stores ship capsized at Gosport, Hampshire. She was on a voyage from London to Portsmouth, Hampshire. |

### Unknown date

List of shipwrecks: Unknown date 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Betsey | Great Britain | The ship was wrecked on São Miguel Island, Azores. She was on a voyage from New York to the Western Islands. |
| Count Schimmerman | Danish Asiatic Company | The East Indiaman foundered in the North Sea off the Isle of May, Scotland. Her crew were rescued. She was bound to India. |
| Draper | Great Britain | The ship foundered in the English Channel off Dungeness, Kent. She was on a voyage from London to Newry, County Antrim, Ireland. |
| Endeavour | Great Britain | The ship was lost in the Isles of Scilly. She was on a voyage from Liverpool, Lancashire to Portsmouth, Hampshire. |
| John & Mary | Great Britain | The ship was lost near Lübeck. |
| Couronne | French Navy | The Saint-Esprit-class ship of the line was destroyed by fire at Brest. |
| Lady Betty | Great Britain | The ship foundered in the Atlantic Ocean off Madeira. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Newfoundland, British America to Madeira. |
| Mary | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore in the Saltee Islands, County Wexford, Ireland. She was on a voyage from Saint Kitts to London or Liverpool. |
| Zeebergh | Dutch Republic | The ship was captured by a French privateer but was subsequently wrecked on the French coast. She was on a voyage from Liverpool to Ostend. |

## May
### 2 May

List of shipwrecks: 2 May 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Enterprize | Great Britain | Anglo-French War (1778–83): The ship was captured by the privateer Victory ( France). she was stripped of her guns and sunk. Enterprize was on a voyage from Swansey, Glamorgan to Portsmouth, Hampshire. |

### 7 May

List of shipwrecks: 7 May 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Duke of Athol | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore in Riga Bay. |
| Jenny and Peggy | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore and wrecked in Riga Bay. |
| Nelly | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore in Riga Bay. |

### 17 May

List of shipwrecks: 17 May 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Olive Branch | Great Britain | The privateer was wrecked on the coast of Ireland. |

### 28 May

List of shipwrecks: 28 May 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Rose in June | Great Britain | The ship struck rocks off Land's End, Cornwall and foundered with the loss of all but one of her crew. She was on a voyage from Falmouth, Cornwall to Swansea, Glamorgan. |

### Unknown date

List of shipwrecks: Unknown date 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| America | Great Britain | The ship sank near Topsham, Devon. She was on a voyage from Exon, Devon to Ostend, Dutch Republic. |
| Espírito Santa Rainha de Aug | Portugal | The ship was driven ashore near Aberystwyth, Cardiganshire, Great Britain. |
| George | Great Britain | The ship capsized at Fyall, Azores. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Bristol, Gloucestershire to Fyall and Quebec, British America. |
| Industry | Great Britain | The ship was lost off the coast of Scotland. She was on a voyage from Liverpool, Lancashire to Riga, Russia. |

## June
### 7 June

List of shipwrecks: 7 June 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| HM hired armed ship Molly | Royal Navy | The hired armed ship caught fire, exploded, and sank off Point Lynas, Anglesey. There were about 40 survivors. |

### 10 June

List of shipwrecks: 10 June 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Ann | Great Britain | The ship was wrecked on the Fischer Rocks, 10 leagues (30 nautical miles (56 km)) west of "Wyburgh". She was on a voyage from "Wyburgh" to Liverpool, Lancashire. |
| HMS Greyhound | Royal Navy | The Mermaid-class frigate ran aground at the South Foreland, Kent and was wrecked. |

### Unknown date

List of shipwrecks: Unknown date 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| HMS General Arnold | Royal Navy | American Revolution: The Row galley ran aground in the Chowan River at Edenton, North Carolina. She was then captured by local Militia troops. |
| Nancy | Great Britain | Anglo-French War (1778–83): The ship was captured off Milford, Pembrokeshire by the privateer Franklin ( France) and was sunk by her. Her crew were taken on board the privateer. Nancy was on a voyage from Tinmouth, Devon to Liverpool, Lancashire. |

## July
### 3 July

List of shipwrecks: 3 July 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Brilliant | Great Britain | The ship struck a rock off the Mew Stone and was wrecked. She was on a voyage from Wales to Topsham, Devon. |

### 21 July

List of shipwrecks: 21 July 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Honkoop | Dutch East India Company | Fourth Anglo-Dutch War, Battle of Saldanha Bay: The East Indiaman was captured by the Royal Navy. Hencoop was on a voyage from China to Amsterdam. She foundered in January 1782 on her voyage to England. |
| Middelburg | Dutch East India Company | Battle of Saldanha Bay. The East Indiaman was burnt by the Dutch of avoid capture. She was on a voyage from China to Amsterdam. |

### 23 July

List of shipwrecks: 23 July 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| "Dasher" | Virginia Virginia State Navy | The galley was wrecked in a gale in Lynnhaven Bay. Crew were captured after reaching shore. |

### Unknown date

List of shipwrecks: Unknown date 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Good Hope | Denmark | The ship was lost near Harwich, Essex, Great Britain. She was on a voyage from Copenhagen to Lisbon, Portugal. |
| Serapis | France | The privateer caught fire, exploded and sank off the coast of Madagascar with the loss of eight of the 223 people on board. |

## August
### 1 August

List of shipwrecks: 1 August 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Hope | Great Britain | The ship was lost in the Black River, Jamaica. She was on a voyage from Jamaica to London. |

### 2 August

List of shipwrecks: 2 August 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Ann | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore and wrecked at Jamaica. |
| Arundal | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore at Jamaica. |
| Carnatic | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore and wrecked at Jamaica. |
| Chambers | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore at Jamaica. |
| Charming Nancy | Great Britain | The ship was wrecked at Jamaica. |
| Clarendon | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore and wrecked at Jamaica. |
| Dispatch | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore at Jamaica. |
| Endeavour | Great Britain | The ship was wrecked at Jamaica. She was on a voyage from Jamaica to Charles Town, South Carolina, United States. |
| Fame | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore and wrecked at Jamaica. |
| Friendship | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore and wrecked at Jamaica. |
| George and John | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore and wrecked at Jamaica. |
| Golden Rule | Great Britain | The ship (a.k.a. Equity) was driven ashore at Jamaica. |
| Green-island | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore at Jamaica. |
| Henry | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore at Jamaica. |
| Hercules | Great Britain | The ship was lost in Annatta Bay, Jamaica. |
| Jamaica | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore at Jamaica. |
| John | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore and wrecked at Jamaica. |
| Kingston | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore and wrecked at Jamaica. |
| Kitty | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore and wrecked at Jamaica. She was on a voyage from Jamaica to London. |
| Lark | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore at Jamaica. |
| London | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore at Jamaica. |
| Mary | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore at Jamaica. |
| Mentor | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore at Jamaica. |
| Montague | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore and wrecked at Jamaica. |
| Nancy | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore and damaged at Jamaica. She was subsequently repaired and returned to service. |
| Nanny | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore at Jamaica. |
| Orange Bay | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore at Jamaica. |
| HMS Pelican | Royal Navy | The Porcupine-class post ship was driven ashore and wrecked on the Morant Keys, off Jamaica. |
| Ransom | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore at Jamaica. |
| Thetis | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore at Jamaica. |
| True Britton | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore at Jamaica. |

### 5 August

List of shipwrecks: 5 August 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Hollandia | Dutch Republic Navy | Fourth Anglo-Dutch War, Battle of Dogger Bank: The third rate ship of the line foundered following the battle. |
| Vénus | French Navy | The frigate was wrecked off the Glénan Islands, Finistère. Her crew were rescued. |

### 15 August

List of shipwrecks: 15 August 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Roberts | Great Britain | The sloop sprang a leak in the English Channel. Her crew were rescued. She came ashore in Scatshall Bay and was wrecked. Roberts was on a voyage from Exeter, Devon to Bucklers Hard, Hampshire. |

### 17 August

List of shipwrecks: 17 August 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| James and John | Great Britain | The ship was wrecked on Öland, Sweden. She was on a voyage from London to Saint Petersburg, Russia. |

### 21 August

List of shipwrecks: 21 August 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| St. Joaquim e Santa Anna | Portugal | The ship foundered in the North Sea off Rottam Island, Dutch Republic with the loss of fourteen of her seventeen crew. She was on a voyage from Oporto to Hamburg. |

### 24 August

List of shipwrecks: 24 August 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Hope | Great Britain | The ship was lost at Penzance, Cornwall. She was on a voyage from London to Belfast, County Antrim, Ireland. |

### Unknown date

List of shipwrecks: Unknown date 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Friends | Ireland | The ship was driven ashore in Dublin Bay. She was on a voyage from Bourdeaux, France to Dublin. |
| Holland's Melvaart | Dutch Republic | Fourth Anglo-Dutch War: The ship was driven ashore at the mouth of the Kenmare River by Cicero ( Great Britain) and another vessel. She was burnt by her captors. |
| Jane | Great Britain | Anglo-French War (1778–83): The ship was captured and burnt by the privateer La Victoire ( France). She was on a voyage from Swansey, Glamorgan to Youghall, County Cork, Ireland. |

## September
### 4 September

List of shipwrecks: 4 September 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Valiant | United States | American Revolutionary War: The ship, a prize of Enterprize ( Great Britain), was recaptured and set afire by two American privateers off Waterford, Ireland. |

### 5 September

List of shipwrecks: 5 September 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| HMS Terrible | Royal Navy | American Revolutionary War, Battle of the Chesapeake: The Ramillies-class ship of the line was set afire and scuttled following damage sustained in battle. |
| Vrow Margaretta | Duchy of Holstein | The ship was driven ashore and wrecked at Whitby, Yorkshire, Great Britain. |

### 9 September

List of shipwrecks: 9 September 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Rodney | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore at Wexford, Ireland by three privateers. She was on a voyage from Lancaster, Lancashire to Ireland and the Leeward Islands. |

### 17 September

List of shipwrecks: 17 September 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Venus | Great Britain | The ship departed from Newfoundland, British America for Lisbon, Portugal. No further trace, presumed foundered in the Atlantic Ocean with the loss of all hands. |

### 22 September

List of shipwrecks: 22 September 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| HMS Duchess of Cumberland | Royal Navy | The sloop was wrecked at Cape St. Mary in heavy fog. |

### 27 September

List of shipwrecks: 27 September 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Demoiselle Regina | Hamburg | The ship was wrecked on the coast of Flanders, Dutch Republic. She was on a voyage from Portsmouth, Hampshire, Great Britain to Hamburg |
| Freeden | Sweden | The ship was wrecked at Skagen, Denmark. She was on a voyage from Sweden to London, Great Britain. |

### 28 September

List of shipwrecks: 28 September 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Lübeck | Lübeck | The ship was wrecked on the coast of Flanders, Dutch Republic. She was on a voyage from Portsmouth, Hampshire, Great Britain to Hamburg. |
| Maria Cornelia | Dutch Republic | The ship was driven ashore at Ostend. She was on a voyage from Ostend to Saint Thomas, Virgin Islands. |

### 29 September

List of shipwrecks: 29 September 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Friendship | Great Britain | The ship was wrecked on the Falsterbo Reef, in the Baltic Sea. She was on a voyage from Scarborough, Yorkshire to Memel, Prussia. |

### Unknown date

List of shipwrecks: Unknown date 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Admiraal Generaal | Dutch Republic Navy | The third rate ship of the line was driven ashore on Texel. |
| Betsey | Great Britain | American Revolutionary War: The ship was sunk in the York River, Virginia, United States, |
| Elizabeth | Ireland | The ship foundered in the Baltic Sea off Møn, Denmark with the loss of all but one of her crew. She was on a voyage from Londonderry to Dantzick. |
| Hinchinbrook | Great Britain | The ship departed from Saint Petersburg for Hull. No further trace, presumed foundered with the loss of all hands. |
| Nossa Senhora do Carmo St. Domingo | Portugal | The ship was driven ashore and wrecked 8 nautical miles (15 km) north of Copenhagen, Denmark. She was on a voyage from Saint Petersburg, Russia to Lisbon. |
| Sarah | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore and wrecked near Dragør, Denmark. She was on a voyage from Saint Petersburg to South Shields, County Durham. |
| York | Great Britain | The ship was wrecked on the Haisborough Sands, in the North Sea off the coast of Norfolk. She was on a voyage from Saint Petersburg to London. |

## October
### 10 October

List of shipwrecks: 10 October 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| HMS Charon | Royal Navy | American Revolutionary War, Siege of Yorktown: The fifth rate was set of fire and sank in the York River, Virginia, United States. |
| HMS Fowey | Royal Navy | American Revolutionary War, Siege of Yorktown: The sixth rate fire ship was scuttled in the York River. |
| HMS Guadeloupe | Royal Navy | American Revolutionary War, Siege of Yorktown: The Coventry-class frigate was scuttled in the York River. Subsequently salvaged by the French and entered service with the French Navy. |
| Port Morant | Great Britain | The ship was lost on the Martin's Industry Sand, off Port Royal, South Carolina, United States. Her crew were rescued. |
| Shipwright | Great Britain | American Revolutionary War, Siege of Yorktown:The transport burned and sank, along with another transport, in the York River, Virginia, United States, when the anchor line of the burning HMS Charon ( Royal Navy) parted and she drifted into them. |
| Unknown | Great Britain | American Revolutionary War, Siege of Yorktown:The transport burned and sank, along with "Shipwright", in the York River, Virginia, United States, when the anchor line of the burning HMS Charon ( Royal Navy) parted and she drifted into them. |
| HMS Vulcan | Royal Navy | American Revolutionary War, Siege of Yorktown: The fireship was scuttled in the York River. |

### 11 October

List of shipwrecks: 11 October 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| HMS Firebrand | Royal Navy | The fireship caught fire, exploded and sank at Falmouth, Cornwall. Her crew were rescued. |
| HMS Rattlesnake | Royal Navy | The cutter was wrecked at Trindade, Brazil, with the loss of all but one of her crew. |

### 15 October

List of shipwrecks: 15 October 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Pearl | Denmark | The ship was wrecked on the Goodwin Sands, Kent, Great Britain. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Saint Croix to Copenhagen. |

### 17 October

List of shipwrecks: 17 October 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Lord Howe | Great Britain | The storeship foundered in the Atlantic Ocean (45°26′N 41°00′W﻿ / ﻿45.433°N 41.000°W﻿ / 45.433; -41.000). Her crew were rescued. |

### 18 October

List of shipwrecks: 18 October 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Betsey | Great Britain | The ship was lost near "Wingo", Sweden. She was on a voyage from London to Stettin. |
| Mermaid | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore and severely damaged in the River Mersey. She was on a voyage from Liverpool, Lancashire to Africa. |

### 24 October

List of shipwrecks: 24 October 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Boog | Great Britain | The ship foundered in the Atlantic Ocean. Her crew were rescued by Susanna ( Great Britain). Boog was on a voyage from Jamaica to London. |

### 29 October

List of shipwrecks: 29 October 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Peace and Plenty | Ireland | The ship capsized in the Atlantic Ocean with the loss of all but one of her crew. She was on a voyage from Cork to the West Indies. |

### Unknown date

List of shipwrecks: Unknown date 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Fame | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore on "Cruyso Island". She was on a voyage from Archangelsk, Russia to London. |
| Friendship | Great Britain | The ship was wrecked on the coast of Labrador, British America. |
| Henrietta | Prussia | The ship was lost neat Ystadt, Sweden. She was on a voyage from Memel to Hull, Yorkshire, Great Britain. |
| Jenny | Great Britain | The ship was in collision with Gibside' ( Great Britain and foundered in the North Sea off Flamborough Head, Yorkshire with the loss of three of her crew. |
| Kent | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore on the coast of Lincolnshire. |
| Lamedo | Portugal | The ship foundered. Her crew were rescued by Nossa Senhora das Neves ( Portugal). Lamedo was on a voyage from Dover, Kent, Great Britain to Lisbon. |
| São João Baptista | Portugal | The ship was wrecked near Truro, Cornwall, Great Britain. She was on a voyage from Cork, Ireland to Ostend, Dutch Republic. |

## November
### 5 November

List of shipwrecks: 5 November 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Richard | Great Britain | The ship was lost in Mount's Bay. She was on a voyage from Tinmouth, Devon to Liverpool, Lancashire. |
| Santissimo Trinidade | Portugal | The ship was lost near St Martin's, Isles of Scilly, Great Britain. Her crew survived. She was on a voyage from Aveiro to Amsterdam, Dutch Republic. |

### 6 November

List of shipwrecks: 6 November 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Jamaica | Ireland | The ship was driven ashore on the coast of Ireland with the loss of a crew member. She was on a voyage from Sligo to Charles Town, South Carolina, United States. |

### 14 November

List of shipwrecks: 14 November 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| John & Mary | Great Britain | The ship foundered in the Dogger Bank. Her cre were rescued by a fishing vessel. |
| Rodney | Great Britain | Anglo-French War (1778–83): The ship was driven ashore at Aldeburgh, Suffolk by a French privateer. She was on a voyage from Archangelsk, Russia to London. |

### 21 November

List of shipwrecks: 21 November 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Prince of Orange | Great Britain | The ship foundered. Her crew were rescued by HMS Shark ( Royal Navy). Prince of Orange was on a voyage from Saint Petersburg, Russia to London. |

### 28 November

List of shipwrecks: 28 November 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| May | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore on the Island of Condre, in the Saint Lawrence River. She was on a voyage from Quebec to Brazil. |
| Paisley | Great Britain | The storeship was wrecked at Whitby, Yorkshire. All on board were rescued. |

### Unknown date

List of shipwrecks: Unknown date 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Adventure | Great Britain | The ship was wrecked on rocks at North Shields, County Durham. She was on a voyage from Saint Petersburg, Russia to Portsmouth, Hampshire. |
| Ann and Frances | Great Britain | The ship was lost on the Isle of Lewis with the loss of two of her crew. She was on a voyage from Whitehaven, Cumberland to a Baltic port. |
| Antigallician | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore and wrecked near Holyhead, Anglesey. She was on a voyage from Liverpool, Lancashire to Charles Town, South Carolina, United States. |
| Blushing Aurora | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore and wrecked on the coast of Jutland. She was on a voyage from Archangelsk, Russia to Liverpool. |
| Colvil | Great Britain | The ship was lost whilst on a voyage from the Baltic to Scotland. |
| Count Schimmelman | Denmark | The ship was driven ashore near Ramsgate, Kent, Great Britain. She was on a voyage from Málaga, Spain to London, Great Britain. |
| Emanuel | Hamburg | The ship ran aground on the Gunfleet Sand, in the North Sea and was severely damaged. She was refloated and taken in to Harwich, Essex, Great Britain for repairs. Emanuel was on a voyage from London to Hamburg. |
| Felicity | Jersey | The ship was lost near Libava, Duchy of Courland and Semigallia. She was on a voyage from Saint Petersburg to Jersey. |
| Friendship | Bremen | The ship was lost in the Weser. She was on a voyage from Bourdeaux, France to Bremen. |
| Friendship | Great Britain | The ship was lost whilst on a voyage from the Baltic to Scotland. |
| Good Hope | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore on Texel, Dutch Republic. She was on a voyage from Aberdeen to Ostend, Dutch Republic. |
| Inga Magdalena | Sweden | The ship was lost near Dungeness, Kent. She was on a voyage from Stockholm to Plymouth, Devon, Great Britain. |
| Magdalena | Great Britain | The ship foundered in the Baltic Sea. She was on a voyage from Riga, Russia to Hull, Yorkshire. |
| Maria | Great Britain | Anglo-French War (1778–83): The ship was captured off Fairlee, Isle of Wight by the privateer Jenne Dunkirquoise ( Kingdom of France). She was sent in to Dunkerque, France but was lost going into that port. Her crew were rescued. |
| Marwood | Great Britain | The brig foundered off the coast on Norway with the loss of all but one of her crew. |
| Mary | Great Britain | The ship was wrecked on the Welsh coast with the loss of four of her crew. She was on a voyage from Jamaica to Bristol, Gloucestershire. |
| Norfolk | Great Britain | The ship was wrecked on the coast of Norway. |
| Officeuse | France | The storeship was wrecked at Casamance, Portuguese Guinea. She was on a voyage from Bourdeaux to Senegal. |
| Ranger | Great Britain | The ship was lost in the Gulf of Finland. She was on a voyage from Saint Petersburg to Bristol. |
| Sally | Great Britain | The ship foundered. Her crew were rescued. |
| Spitfire | Great Britain | The cutter was lost in Irvine Bay. She was on a voyage from Gothenburg, Sweden to Scotland. |
| Two Brothers | Dutch Republic | The ship was lost near Ilfracombe, Devon, Great Britain. She was on a voyage from Málaga to Ostend. |

## December
### 1 December

List of shipwrecks: 1 December 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Cyrus | Great Britain | The ship capsized in the River Witham at Boston, Lincolnshire. |

### 3 December

List of shipwrecks: 3 December 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Jenny | Great Britain | The ship was wrecked on the coast of Cornwall. She was on a voyage from London to Plymouth, Devon. |
| Seaflower | Great Britain | The ship was abandoned by her crew, who were rescued. She was on a voyage from Riga, Russia to London. Seaflower was later discovered at sea derelict and taken in to "Fredericks Warn". |

### 7 December

List of shipwrecks: 7 December 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Friendship | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore at Sandown Castle, Kent. She was on a voyage from Saint Petersburg, Russia to Plymouth, Devon. She was later refloated and taken in to Dover, Kent. |
| King George | Great Britain | African slave trade: The ship was wrecked on Grand Cayman with the loss of a crew member and 108 of the 429 slaves on board. She was on a voyage from Africa to Jamaica. |

### 17 December

List of shipwrecks: 17 December 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Æolus | Great Britain | The ship was wrecked on the Haisborough Sands, in the North Sea off the coast of Norfolk. Her crew were rescued by Louisa ( Great Britain). |

### 18 December

List of shipwrecks: 18 December 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Maria | Sweden | The ship was driven ashore and wrecked at Elsinore, Denmark. She was on a voyage from Alicant, Spain to Stockholm. |

### 21 December

List of shipwrecks: 21 December 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| HMS Bellona | Royal Navy | The Bellona-class ship of the line ran aground off St Helens, Isle of Wight and was severely damaged. She was refloated on 25 December. |
| Samuel | Great Britain | The ship foundered in the Atlantic Ocean. Her crew were rescued by Olive Branch. |

### 22 December

List of shipwrecks: 22 December 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Monkey | Great Britain | The cutter was driven ashore at Dunkerque, France. She was captured by the local inhabitants. |

### 25 December

List of shipwrecks: 25 December 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Casio Jose | Portugal | The ship was wrecked at "Sniem", County Kerry, Ireland Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Lisbon to London, Great Britain. |
| Phœnix | Great Britain | Anglo-French War (1778–83): The lugger was holed in an engagement with the privateer Fearnought ( France) and consequently foundered 3 leagues (9 nautical miles (17 km) off St Ives, Cornwall with the loss of fourteen of her crew. |

### 28 December

List of shipwrecks: 28 December 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Caterina | Great Britain | The ship was wrecked at Sker Point, Glamorgan. The wreck was looted by local inhabitants, several off whom were arrested and imprisoned. One was later hanged. |
| Ellen | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore in Bootle Bay. She was later refloated and taken in to Liverpool, Lancashire. Ellen was on a voyage from Jamaica to Liverpool. |
| Good-Intent | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore and wrecked near Bridport, Dorset. She was on a voyage from Falmouth, Cornwall to London. |
| Solidade | Portugal | The ship was driven ashore and severely damaged in the River Shannon. She was on a voyage from Lisbon, to Waterford, Ireland. |

### 30 December

List of shipwrecks: 30 December 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Lancaster | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore near Galway, Ireland. She was on a voyage from Liverpool, Lancashire to Africa. |

### Unknown date

List of shipwrecks: Unknown date 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Anna Maria | Denmark | The ship was driven ashore at Pakefield, Suffolk, Kingdom of Great Britain. She was on a voyage from Ostend, Dutch Republic to Marseille, France. |
| Balfour | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore and wrecked on the "Island of Flora" with the loss of eight of her crew. She was on a voyage from Saint Augustine to London. |
| British Queen | Great Britain | The ship foundered in the Atlantic Ocean. Her crew were rescued by Dick ( Great Britain). |
| Coron | Imperial Russian Navy | The ship was holed by ice and sank at Taganrog. She was refloated in 1782, repaired and returned to service. |
| Elizabeth | Great Britain | Anglo-French War (1778–83): The ship was captured by a French privateer. She was subsequently driven ashore at Padstow, Cornwall. Elizabeth was on a voyage from Tortola to London. |
| Fanny | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore and wrecked in Carnarvon Bay. She was on a voyage from Liverpool, Lancashire to London. |
| Friends Goodwill | Great Britain | The ship ran aground and was wrecked at Weymouth, Dorset. |
| Isabella | Great Britain | The ship was lost at the "Lambaska Islands", in the White Sea. She was on a voyage from Archangelsk, Russia to Kirkcudbright. |
| Jong Schettelaen | Dutch Republic | The ship was lost near "Wyburgh". She was on a voyage from Riga, Russia to Ostend. |
| Josepha | Ireland | The ship foundered in the North Sea with the loss of all but two of her crew. She was on a voyage from Saint Petersburg, Russia to Cork. |
| Laurel | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore in the Orkney Islands. She was on a voyage from Saint Petersburg to Whitehaven, Cumberland. |
| London | Great Britain | The ship was lost at the mouth of the River Bray. She was on a voyage from Liverpool, Lancashire to London. |
| Neptune | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore and severely damaged whilst on a voyage from Plymouth to Tinmouth, Devon. She was later refloated. |
| Swan | Great Britain | The transport ship foundered in the Atlantic Ocean. Her crew took to the boat and were later rescued by Dick ( Great Britain). |
| Truelove | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore on Sanday, Orkney Islands. She was on a voyage from Saint Petersburg to Whitehaven. |
| Vlieger van Ostend | Dutch Republic | The ship was driven ashore and wrecked in the Ems. |

## Unknown date

List of shipwrecks: Unknown date 1781 :
| Ship | State | Description |
| Africa | Great Britain | The ship sprang a leak in the Atlantic Ocean. Her crew set fire to the vessel and were rescued by Nancy and Trecothick (both Great Britain). Africa was on a voyage from Jamaica to London. |
| Anna | Great Britain | The ship was lost at "St John's, Augustine". |
| Alfred | Great Britain | The ship was lost at Jamaica. |
| Betsy | Great Britain | American Revolutionary War, Siege of Yorktown:The coal brig was scuttled as a blockship sometime during the siege. |
| Betsey | Great Britain | The ship was sunk by ice off Trinity, Newfoundland, British America. She was on a voyage from Lisbon, Portugal to Trinity. |
| Betsey | Great Britain | The ship foundered. Her crew were rescued. |
| Britannia | Great Britain | The victualling ship was lost at Virginia, United States. |
| Britannia | Great Britain | The ship was lost whilst on a voyage from Charles Town, South Carolina and Georgia to the West Indies. |
| Brotherly Love | Great Britain | The ship capsized in the Atlantic Ocean with the loss of a passenger. She was on a voyage from Savannah, Georgia, United States to the Leeward Islands. |
| Carboneir | Portugal | The ship was sunk by ice off the coast of Newfoundland. She was on a voyage from Lisbon to Newfoundland. |
| Charming Nancy | Great Britain | The ship foundered. Her crew were rescued. |
| Countess of Effingham | Great Britain | The ship foundered in Trinity Bay, Newfoundland. she was on a voyage from Pool, Dorset to Newfoundland. |
| Cyrus | Great Britain | The ship foundered. Her crew were rescued by HMS Ruby ( Royal Navy). |
| Daniel | Great Britain | The ship was wrecked on the coast of Newfoundland with the loss of 24 of her crew. She was on a voyage from Barbadoes to Newfoundland. |
| Debby | Great Britain | The ship was lost at Jamaica. |
| Deux Frères | Great Britain | The ship capsized in the Mississippi River. She was on a voyage from New Orleans, New Spain to London. |
| Dispatch | Great Britain | American Revolutionary War: The ship was driven ashore near Charles Town by American privateers and was wrecked. She was on a voyage from Jamaica to Charles Town. |
| Dispatch | Great Britain | The ship was driven ashore and wrecked near Baltimore, Maryland, British America. |
| Duke of Cumberland | Great Britain | The ship was lost at Montego Bay, Jamaica. She was on a voyage from Sint Eustatius to Jamaica. |
| Earl of Cornwallis | Great Britain | The privateer capsized at Saint Kitts whilst being careened with much loss of life. |
| Earl of Grenville | Great Britain | The ship foundered. Her crew were rescued. |
| Elizabeth | Great Britain | The ship foundered in the Atlantic Ocean. Sally ( Great Britain) rescued the crew. Elizabeth was on a voyage from New York, United States to the West Indies. |
| Friendship | Great Britain | The ship was wrecked on a reef in the Chesapeake River, United States. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Charles Town to Virginia. |
| Gascoyne | Great Britain | The ship foundered in the Atlantic Ocean. She was on a voyage from Jamaica to Liverpool, Lancashire. |
| General Clinton | Great Britain | The ship foundered in the Atlantic Ocean. Her crew were rescued. |
| General Prevost | Great Britain | American Revolutionary War: The ship was engaged by an American brig, cutter and frigate. She was driven ashore and wrecked on the north coast of Cuba. |
| Industry | Great Britain | The ship was lost in the West Indies. She was on a voyage from Saint Thomas, Virgin Islands to Halifax. |
| Jamaica | Great Britain | The ship capsized at Charles Town. |
| June | Great Britain | The ship was lost in the Straits of Belle Isle. She was on a voyage from London to Quebec. |
| Lark | Ireland | The ship foundered in the Atlantic Ocean. She was on a voyage from Cork to New York. |
| Leeds Industry | Great Britain | The transport ship was lost at Charles Town. |
| Lively | United States | The schooner foundered in the Atlantic Ocean off Montauk, New York. |
| Lord Frederick | Great Britain | The ship was captured by an American privateer. The British recaptured her but she was subsequently wrecked at Bermuda. Lord Frederick was on a voyage from the Clyde to Charles Town. |
| Loyal Briton | Great Britain | The ship foundered in the Atlantic Ocean. She was on a voyage from Bristol to New York. |
| Madonna del Rosario | Grand Duchy of Tuscany | The ship foundered off Rhodes. She was on a voyage from Scanderoon, Ottoman Empire to Livorno. |
| Nancy | Great Britain | The ship foundered in the Atlantic Ocean. Fly ( Great Britain) rescued the crew. Nancy was on a voyage from New York to Lisbon, Portugal. |
| Nancy | Great Britain | The ship foundered in the Atlantic Ocean. Her crew were rescued She was on a voyage from Jamaica to London. |
| Philippa | Great Britain | American Revolutionary War: The ship was captured by an American privateer but was subsequently lost. She was on a voyage from Oporto, Portugal to New York. |
| Richmond | Great Britain | The ship foundered in the Atlantic Ocean whilst bound for Charles Town. |
| Rodney | Great Britain | The ship foundered in the Atlantic Ocean. She was on a voyage from Jamaica to London. |
| Rosa | Great Britain | The ship was lost near "Town Cordowan". She was on a voyage from "Port Passage" to the West Indies. |
| Sir Peter Parker | Great Britain | The ship was lost at Jamaica. She was on a voyage from Pensacola, Florida, British America to Jamaica. |
| Speedwell | Great Britain | The ship was sunk by ice off Trinity, Newfoundland. She was on a voyage from Lisbon to Trinity. |
| Speke | Great Britain | The transport ship was presumed to have foundered whilst on a voyage from the West Indies to Great Britain. |
| St. Stephen | Great Britain | The transport ship foundered in the Atlantic Ocean. Her crew were rescued. |
| Swallow | Great Britain | The ship was lost at Tortola before 22 June. Her crew were rescued. |
| Thetis | Great Britain | The ship foundered in the Atlantic Ocean. Laing ( Great Britain) rescued the crew. Thetis was on a voyage from Jamaica to London. |
| Trecothick | Great Britain | The ship sprang a leak in the Atlantic Ocean. Her crew set fire to her and abandoned ship. They were rescued. |
| Venus | Great Britain | The ship was lost off Cape Ray, Newfoundland. |