Speculator (1797 ship)

Speculator was launched in 1797 on the Thames. She may have served the British government between her launch and 1803. She then made one voyage as a whaler in the British southern whale fishery. What happened to her after her return is currently obscure.

History
Great Britain
NameSpeculator
Launched1797, Thames[1][2]
General characteristics
Tons burthen100, or 169,[1] or 183[2] (bm)

Career

Speculator first appeared in Lloyd's Register (LR) in the volume for 1802.[1]

Year Master Owner Trade Source
1802 J.Mildrum Herbert London–Southern fishery LR

Captain J. Mildrum sailed from London on 25 May 1803, bound for the southern whale fishery.[3] On 5 March 1804 Speculator arrived at Saint Helena. She left on 15 March. As she crossed the equator she fell in with three ships flying British colours. One was a corvette of 20 guns and one was a large Dutch ship. Mildrum assumed they were a convoy from the Cape, at least until the corvette fired on Speculator. Speculator fled, firing her stern guns at her pursuers. She escaped and arrived safely at Ilfracombe prior to 2 May.[4]

The articles reporting this engagement mentioned that Speculator was a former gunbrig, and had false guns mounted.[4] There is no record of a gun-brig named Speculator during the period 1793 to 1817, either belonging to the Royal Navy or a hired armed vessel. It is possible that the Royal Navy purchased her and sailed her under another name, but there is no obvious candidate.[5]

Speculator remained listed in LR for some years, but with stale data. There was no further press mention of a Speculator, Mildrum, master, after 1804.

Citations
  1. LR (1802), Supple. pages "S", Seq.no.S156.
  2. House of Commons (1814), p. 342.
  3. British Southern Whale Fishery database – Voyages: Speculator.
  4. "CORRESPONDENCE". 5 May 1804, York Herald (York, England,) issue: 725.
  5. Winfield (2008).

References
  • House of Commons, Parliament, Great Britain (1814). Minutes of the Evidence Taken Before the Select Committee on Petitions Relating to East-India-Built Shipping. H.M. Stationery Office.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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