John O'Gaunt

Official Number
none

The John O'Gaunt was a full-rigged ship built by John Brockbank and launched at Lancaster on the 29th June 1809. She was 455 tons burthen, pierced for 20 guns and was intended for the trade to Martinique and Barbadoes.

The John O'Gaunt, Capt.Inglis, from London for Martinique, was one of four ships captured and burnt by the French frigate Clorinde, 50 guns, and another frigate on the 5th December 1813, at 44.30 N, 10.30W (Bay of Biscay). These vessels had been part of a West India convoy that had left Portsmouth under the escort of HM ship Queen, but which had been dispersed by a gale on the 2nd December. The crews of the four burnt ships were put onto a fifth captured vessel, which was scuttled by the French, but fortunately was sighted by British cruisers and 101 men rescued. The master and crew of the John O'Gaunt were safely landed at Plymouth. The Clorinde, a frigate of the largest French class, with 400 men, was dismasted and captured by HM ship Eurotas on the 25th February 1814, off Ushant, attempting to return to Brest at the end of a four month cruise in which she had taken 12 prizes.

Name
Year Built
Gross Tons
Length (feet)
Breadth (feet)
Depth (feet)
Masts
Figurehead
Stern
Lloyd's Classn.
John O'Gaunt
1809
 426
 
 
 
3
 
 
 

Sources :

  1. Launch reported in the Lancaster Gazette newspaper, Sat., 1st July 1809 - names vessel as "John of Gaunt".
  2. Lancaster Shipping Register, ref.SS.5/1 at Lancashire Record Office - states "taken by French, 1813", and gives tonnage as 426.
  3. Lloyd's Register of Shipping (Underwriters' Green Book) 1810-1: John O'Gaunt, ship, coppered in 1809, 419 tons, owned by Worwick & Co., commanded by Capt.J.Moon, built Lancaster in 1809, armed with 18 x 9-pounder carronades, voyage London - Jamaica.
  4. Lloyd's Register of Shipping (Shipowners' Red Book) 1813-4: John O'Gaunt, ship, coppered in 1809, 419 tons, owned by Worwick & Co., commanded by Capt.T.Inglis, built Lancaster in 1809, armed with 7 x 12-pounder carronades, voyage London - Jamaica, annotated "Captured".
  5. Loss reported in the Lancaster Gazette and Liverpool Mercury newspapers, both of Friday, 24th December 1813.
  6. Wikipedia entry for Clorinde.