Hope was launched at Peterhead in 1802. She was a whaler in the British northern whale fishery for her entire career. She was lost on 3 July 1830 in the Davis Strait. Her crew were rescued.
Career The Peterhead Greenland whale fishery began in 1788 with a voyage by a relatively small vessel, Robert, of 169 tons (bm). In 1798 Alexander Geary became master of Robert, and under his command her success improved markedly: she brought in four whales that yielded more than 70 tons of whale oil. However, she was a small vessel, and ill-suited to the business. In 1801, her owners sold her. The newly-built Hope, with Geary in command, replaced Robert. Hope was larger, at 240 tons (bm), and better equipped for Arctic work. In her first whaling season, Hope took 11 whales and brought home more than 117 tons of blubber.
At about this time, Geary, with others, formed Peterhead's first whaling company. They purchased a granary at Keith Inch and converted it into a boil house and stores.
The data below is from the Scottish Arctic Whaling Database.Scottish Arctic Whaling Database – Voyages: Hope.
Year Master Where Whales Tuns whale oil 1802 A.Geary East Greenland Full 1803 A.Geary East Greenland 8 1804 A.Geary East Greenland 20 1805 A.Geary East Greenland 20 1806 A.Geary East Greenland 6 1807 A.Geary East Greenland 9 1808 A.Geary East Greenland 27 1809 A.Geary East Greenland 26 1810 G.Sangster East Greenland 17 1811 G.Sangster East Greenland 27 1812 A.Geary East Greenland 21 1813 A.Geary East Greenland 8 1814 T.Phillips East Greenland 14 157
Eighteen-fourteen was the most successful year for Peterhead whalers. The seven Peterhead whalers killed a total of 163 whales to bring in a total of 192 tuns of whale oil; this gives an average of 198½ tuns per whale. Hope was the least successful of the seven whalers.
Year Master Where Whales Tuns whale oil 1815 T.Phillips East Greenland 5 85 1816 W.Robertson East Greenland 10 61 1817 W.Robertson East Greenland 9 103 1818 W.Robertson East Greenland 3 36 1819 A.Mackie East Greenland 6 + 47 seals 26 1820 A.Mackie East Greenland 2 + 45 seals 9
In 1821 she was registered at Aberdeen with Mackie, master, and John Hutchinson, owner.
Year Master Where Whales Tuns whale oil 1821 W.Robertson East Greenland 10 113 1822 W.Robertson East Greenland 4 73 1823 J.Gilchrist East Greenland 13 192 1824 J.Birnie East Greenland 7 101 1825 J.Volum Davis Strait 6 72 1826 J.Volum Davis Strait 1 17 1827 J.Volum East Greenland 7 56 1828 J.Volum Davis Strait 7 112 1829 J.Volum Davis Strait 8 120 1830 J.Volum Davis Strait 0 0
Fate Hope was lost on 3 July 1830. She was one of the many whalers lost in 1830. She was Peterhead's longest-serving whaler.
Eighteen-thirty was the worst year for ship losses in the Arctic since 1819, when whalers first crossed the straits. Eighteen whalers (or 19), out of 91 vessels were lost, for a total tonnage of 5,614 tons (bm). The second highest loss had occurred in 1823 when 13 vessels totaling 4,409 tons (bm), were lost."Davis' Straits Fishery." 19 October 1830, The Times (London, England). Issue: 14361.
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