Caledonia (1807 ship)
Caledonia was launched in 1807 in Chester. She sailed as a letter of marque West Indiaman, trading between England and Demerara. She captured or recaptured two vessels, and repelled an attach by a US privateer in a single ship action. In 1833 she made a voyage to India, sailing under one of the last licences that the British East India Company (EIC) issued before it gave up its shipping activities. "Caledonia" then continued to trade with India, Africa, and Peru. She suffered a maritime incident in 1840. She was last listed in 1847 after having returned to  Lima in April 1846 in a highly leaky state. Career. "Caledonia" first appeared in "Lloyd's Register" ("LR") in 1807. Captain John Thomson acquired a letter of marque on 4 November 1807. In January 1808 "Lloyd's List" ("LL") reported that "Caledonia", Thomson, master, coming from Clyde, had detained the Danish vessel "Neutrality", Ellison, master, which was coming from Vera Cruz. "Neutrality" foundered soon after. "Caledonia" arrived at Kinsale. She arrived at Demerara in 22 days after leaving Kinsale. In April 1808 "LL" reported that "Caledonia", Thompson, master, had recaptured , which had been sailing from London to Berbice when a  privateer had captured her. "Olive Branch" arrived in Demerara. On 18 October "Caledonia" was in the Mersey, preparing to leave for Demerara, when she had to cut her cables and get under weigh to escape a gale. She was resupplied the next day and was safe at anchor. On 9 November "Caledonia", Thompson, master, was "all well" at on her way from Liverpool to Demerara. She boarded the schooner "Amity", from Newfoundland to Lisbon. A sea in a heavy gale had struck "Amity" and washed her boats and everything from her deck. Captain John Cameron acquired a letter of marque  on 19 December 1811. He had captained "Caledonia" before then. He had returned from Demerara to Liverpool, arriving on 25 June 1812 with sugar, rum, and bales of cotton. On 2 November 1812 "Caledonia", Cameron, master, as to windward of Demerara, on her way there from Liverpool. She encountered the US privateer "Retaliation" and an engagement ensued. Eventually, "Retaliation", much damaged, withdrew to the mouth of the Orinocco River, where she watered and underwent repairs. On 10 November, "Retaliation" sailed to cruise off Berbice. On 7 February 1825, as "Caledonia", Bispham, master, was endeavouring to go to sea, she missed  her stays and grounded on the North Bank. She rested there till the morning tide the next day when a steam tug got her off. She came into the Princes Dock Basin. Her cargo was being unloaded and it was expected that the dry cargo was undamaged. She had six feet of water in her hold and gave the appearance of being broken. By one report the accident occurred as "Caledonia" tried to avoid running into a sloop ahead of her. "Columbia" was not broken and returned to the Demerara trade. In 1832 "Caledonia" returned from Bombay with 2494 bales  and 180 half-bales of cotton, 1000 bags of pepper, 16 bages of cowries, 6585 deer horns, and 10 bags of mother-of-pearl shells. On 2 July 1840 "Caledonia", Stroyan, master, put into Mauritius. A gale had cost her her rudder and left her leaky. She then had to unload her cargo. In subsequent voyages under Captain Lawson, "Caledonia" visited both Calcutta and China. On 9 March 1846 "Caledonia", Cumming, master, sailed from Lima, bound for Liverpool. On 11 April she returned to Lima, leaky. Water was entering at a rate of 10 inches per hour. Fate. "Caledonia" was  last listed in 1847. Notes, citations, and references. Notes Citations References