Zephyr (1790 ship)

For other ships with the same name, see Zephyr (ship).

Zephyr was built on the River Thames in 1790 as a West Indiaman. From c.1796 she started to serve the British East India Company (EIC) as a packet ship. However, a French privateer captured her in 1798.

History
Great Britain
Name	Zephyr
Owner	Kensington & Co.[1]
Builder	Thames
Launched	1790
Captured	1798
General characteristics
Tons burthen	286,[2][1] or 300[3] (bm)
Propulsion	Sail
Complement	18[3]
Armament	1793:8 × 6-pounder guns + 2 swivel guns[3] 1797:10 × 6-pounder + 2 × 12-pounder guns[4]

Career

Zephyr entered Lloyd's Register in 1791 with T. Scott, master, and trade London-St Vincent.^[2]

After the commencement of the French Revolutionary Wars in 1793, Captain Thomas Scott received a letter of marque on 9 March.^[3]

On 30 December 1795, Messrs. St Barbe, Green, and Bignell offered Zephyr, and another brig, Aurora, to the Committee of Shipping of the EIC.^[5] The next day the Committee replied that as the EIC had decided not to engage any vessels of under 400 tons burthen, it would decline the offer.^[6]

Lloyd's List reported on 11 October 1796 that Zephyr had arrived at Dover from Demerara. As she arrived in English waters she saw a brig founder at Lands End.^[7]

The next year the EIC reversed its earlier policy and engaged Zephyr as a packet. Lloyd's Register for 1797 shows her trade changing from Cork—San Domingo to London—East India.^[4]

Loss

On 20 February 1798 as Zephyr was returning to Britain from Bengal and the Cape of Good Hope, the French privateer Vengeance captured her at 45°35′N 37°10′W. Zephyr, which was under the command of Captain John Scott, was no match for Vengeance, which was armed with 24 guns and had a crew of 215 men.^[a] Vengeance sent Zephyr into Bordeaux.^[9] The EIC valued its cargo on Zephyr at £2,554.^[10]

Notes

1. Vengeance was 300-ton (French; "of load"), 20-gun privateer corvette commissioned in Bordeaux in October 1797. Her first cruise started in October 1797. Second cruise, Captain Limousin, with 5 officers and 74 men, lasted from circa August 1798 to circa February 1799. Her third cruise took place in 1800 under a Captain Grandier.^[8]