Queen Charlotte was built on the Thames in 1790. She made eight voyages for the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) before it sold her in 1800. She then traded to South America and the Mediterranean. In 1803 her crew mutinied and turned her over to the French, who promptly handed her and them back to the British authorities, despite the two countries being at war. She then spent much of her career sailing between London and the Cape of Good Hope (CGH; the Cape). She was sailing for the Cape in October 1813 when a collision with another vessel resulted in Queen Charlotte being wrecked shortly thereafter.
Career Queen Charlotte spent the first decade of her career sailing for the HBC. during this time she made eight voyages between London and Hudson Bay, primarily to York Factory. Turner then took command of , another HBC ship.
Year Master Owner Trade Source & notes 1801 J.TurnerAndrews HBCCapt. & Co. Hudson Bay LR 1803 A.Andrews Capt & Co. Liverpool–Leghorn Register of Shipping (RS)
In early 1804 Queen Charlotte, Andrews, master, was returning from Smyrna on her way to London when she put in at Gibraltar. There her crew took control of her and sailed to Cadiz where they turned themselves over to the French Navy. However, at Cadiz the captain of a French 74-gun, took vessel and crew into custody, turning them over to the British consul."LONDON, THURSDAY, MARCH 29". Morning Post (London, England), Thursday, 29 March 1804; Issue 11070. The French also returned Queen Charlotte to Andrew's control.Naval Chronicle (June–July 1804), Vol. 11, p.424.
Year Master Owner Trade Source & notes 1804 A.AndrewsMounton Capt.&Co. Liverpool–LeghornLondon–Surinam LR 1806 A. Carr Wilkie London–Surinam LR 1806 MoresdonA. Andrews Wilkie & Co.Capt.& Co. London–SurinamLondon–SurinamLondon–Cape of good Hope (CGH) RS 1809 Andrews J.Wilkie London–CGH LR 1809 A.Andrews Capt&Co. London–CGH RS; damages repaired 1806 1810 A.Andrews Capt&Co. London–CGH RS; damages repaired 1806 and small repairs 1809
Lloyd's List reported on 15 November 1811 that Queen Charlotte, Andrews, master, had lost an anchor and cable in Margate Roads.
Year Master Owner Trade Source & notes 1813 AndrewsJackson J.Wilkie London–CGH LR; several repairs
On 27 December 1812 Queen Charlotte sailed from Rio de Janeiro together with four three other British merchant vessels bound for Great Britain and under convoy by the schooner . At one left the group, all of which, including Queen Charlotte, Jackson, master, were short of provisions. Queen Charlotte was bound for Greenock.
Fate Queen Charlotte collided on 20 October 1813 with the transport Phœbe and sank off Spithead. Queen Charlottes mate drowned. She was on a voyage from London to the Cape of Good Hope. Queen Charlotte was raised from six fathoms () of water to feet in early December but a gale on 10 December broke up her decks and scattered her cargo. LR for 1814 carried the annotation "sunk" by her name.LR (1814), Seq.№Q16.
Post script She may have been salvaged and become .
Notes
Citations
References