Hercules (1771 ship)
Hercules was launched at Georgia in 1771. She appeared in Lloyd's Register in 1778 and became a West Indiaman. Between 1792 and 1796 she made three voyages as a whaler in the Southern Whale Fishery. In 1797 the French captured Hercules as she was on her fourth voyage.
| History | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Builder: | Georgia |
| Launched: | 1771 |
| Fate: | Transfer to British registry c.1777 |
| |
| Name: | Hercules |
| Namesake: | Hercules |
| Acquired: | c.1777 |
| Captured: | 1797 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tons burthen: | 190,[1] or 230[2] (bm) |
| Armament: | 6 × 4-pounder + 4 × 2-pounder guns[1] |
| Notes: | Built of live oak and pine |
Career
Hercules appeared in Lloyd's Register in 1778 with H.Russell, master, Capt. & Co., owner, and trade London–Antigua.[1] She underwent a good repair in 1785.[2]
In 1790 Hercules's trade was London–New York. In 1792 her master changed from Russell to Coleman, and her owner from Capt. & Co. to Wilton.[3] Captain Coleman sailed from London in 1792. It is not clear when Hercules returned.[4] In March 1793 Lloyd's List reported that Hercules had been at the Falkland Islands.
1st whaling voyage (1792–1793): Hercules had arrived from Antigua on 12 July 1792.[5] She underwent a good repair in 1792.[6]
2nd whaling voyage (1793–1794): Captain Coleman sailed from London in 1793, bound for Peru.[4] In May Hercules was at Rio de Janeiro needing food and water.[7] She returned to London on 22 July 1794 with 48 tuns of sperm oil, seven tuns of whale oil, and 7500 seal skins.[4]
3rd whaling voyage (1794–1796): Captain Henry Delano sailed from London in 1794, bound for the Brazil Banks.[4] Hercules Rio was in May 1796 with scurvy among her crew.[7] She returned to London on 12 July 1796 with three tuns of sperm oil, 112 tuns of whale oil, and 70 cwt of bone bone.[4]
Fate
Lloyd's Register for 1797 showed Hercules's master changing from H. Delano to G. Hales.[6]
Captain George Hales sailed from England in 1796. On 3 March 1797 Lloyd's List reported that the French had captured Hercules, Hale, master, and taken her into Bordeaux.[8]
Citations
- Lloyd's Register (1778), Seq.№H173.
- Lloyd's Register (1787), Seq.№H186.
- Lloyd's Register (1792), Seq.№H190.
- British Southern Whale Fishery – Voyages: Hercules.
- Lloyd's List №2418, Ship arrivals and departures (SAD) data.
- Lloyd's Register (1797), Seq.№H203.
- Clayton 2014, pp. 138–139.
- Lloyd's List №2903.
References
- Clayton, Jane M (2014). Ships employed in the South Sea Whale Fishery from Britain: 1775–1815: An alphabetical list of ships. Berforts Group. ISBN 9781908616524.