Surprize (1780 ship)
Surprize was a three-deck merchant vessel launched in 1780 that made five voyages as a packet ship under charter to the British East India Company (EIC). The fourth of which was subsequent to her participating in the notorious Second Fleet transporting convicts to Port Jackson (EIC). Her fifth voyage for the EIC was subsequent to her second voyage transporting convicts to Australia. In 1799 a French frigate captured her in the Bay of Bengal. First EIC voyage (1783). Under the command of Captain David Asquith, "Surprize" left Bengal on 22 April 1783 and reached the River  Shannon on 11 September. She arrived at The Downs on 17 October. Second EIC voyage (1785). Captain Asquith sailed for Bengal, leaving Britain on 23 January 1784. She may have left as late as 29 April. She arrived at Calcutta by 9 September, bringing with her "a variety of articles, as well useful as curious". "Surprize" arrived back in Britain on 16 May 1785. Third EIC voyage. Captain Asquith left the Downs on 10 July 1785. He was sailing to Madras and Bengal. "Surprize" was then to remain there. Second Fleet and fourth EIC voyage (1790-91). It is not  clear when "Surprize" returned to Britain. She was in Britain in 1789, being repaired by Calvert (her owner). At that time her measurements were taken. Her entry in "Lloyd's Register" for 1789 has an addendum showing that she would be sailing for Botany Bay. Camden, Calvert & King, contracted to transport, clothe and feed convicts for a flat fee of £17 7s. 6d per head, whether they landed alive or not. In company with "Neptune" and "Scarborough", she sailed from England with 254 male convicts on 19 January 1790. Her master was Nicholas Anstis, formerly chief mate on "Lady  Penrhyn" in the First Fleet, and surgeon was William Waters. At 394 tons (bm), "Surprize" was the smallest ship of the fleet, and was an unsuitable vessel for so long a voyage, proving to be a wet ship even in moderate weather. In rough seas and heavy gales the convicts "were considerably above their waists in water", according to the commander of the guards. She arrived at the Cape of Good Hope on 13 April 1790, and spent sixteen days there, taking on provisions. She was parted from her consorts in heavy weather and came in sight of Port Jackson  on 23 June. Contrary winds blew her out to sea again and she did not make port until 26 June 158 days after having left England. During the voyage 36 convicts died (14%), and 121 (48%) were sick when landed. From Port Jackson "Surprize" first sailed to Norfolk Island, arriving there on 28 August in company with . "Surprize" then sailed to Canton, to load tea for the EIC for the return journey to Britain. On the way Anstis sighted, identified as an island, and named Montague Island () after George Montagu-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax. She left Whampoa on 4  February 1791 and reached Anger on 29 April. She did not reach St Helena until 8 July, but arrived at The Downs on 6 September. Slaver (1791-93). In 1791 and 1793, "Surprize" attempted two voyages as a slave ship. Her owners for both voyages owners were Anthony Calvert, Thomas King, and William Campbell, and her master was J. Martin, though "Cambell" succeeded him during the second. On the first voyage she sailed 13 December 1791 but a nautical mishap caused her to end the voyage before she had embarked any slaves. On "Surprizes" second voyage she left London on  2 July 1792, bound for the Gold Coast. She gathered her slaves at Cape Coast Castle, which she left on 1 April 1793. She transported the slaves to Kingston, Jamaica, where she arrived on 20 May with 518 slaves. She arrived back at London on 11 October. "Lloyd's Register" for 1794 provides the following information: Also, "Lloyd's Register" indicates that "Surprize" underwent a thorough repair for damages in 1792. Second convict transport and fifth EIC voyage (1794-96). Captain Patrick Campbell received a letter of marque on 20 January 1794. "Surprize" left England on 2 May with 33  male and 58 female convicts. The guards consisted of an ensign, a sergeant, and 23 privates of the New South Wales Corps. Among the privates were six men who were deserters from other British regiments and who chose the Corps over remaining in gaol; one was a mutineer from Quebec. On the vessel were four Scottish Martyrs, the political prisoners Thomas Muir, Thomas Fyshe Palmer, William Skirving, and Maurice Margarot. The surgeon for the voyage was James Thompson. "Surprize" sailed with a convoy of East Indiamen and under the escort of , Captain Peter Rainier. One of the Indiamen was the  General Goddard, which would participate in a noteworthy capture of several Dutch East Indiamen in 1795 while on her return voyage to England. The convoy also included and . On 31 May a convict reported to Captain Campbell that the six deserters, all Irish, had been plotting in Gaelic to kill Campbell and take over the ship once it had separated from the convoy. Campbell put the men in chains, together with his first officer, Mr. Macpherson, whom Cambell suspected of knowing of the mutiny. On 30 June "Surprize" parted from "Suffolk" and the East Indiamen. "Surprize" arrived at Rio de  Janeiro on 2 July, in company with . Due to problems obtaining fresh water, "Surprize" remained at Rio until 2 August. "Surprize" arrived at Port Jackson on 25 October. Campbell then sailed for Bengal. "Surprize" left Calcutta on 16 November 1795. "Surprize" reached St Helena on 16 February 1796 and Kinsale on 21 April, before arriving at The Downs on 9 May. Later career and capture. "Lloyd's Register" for 1799 shows that she underwent a repair in 1796. Then in 1799 her master was S. Moore, her owner was Calvert & Co., and her trade was London - India. "Lloyd's Register  for 1800 noted that Surprize" had been captured. "Lloyd's List" further reported that the had captured "Surprize", , and a number of other East Indiamen in the Bay of Bengal. Notes, citations and references. Notes Citations References