Thames (1796 EIC ship)
Thames was a British East Indiaman launched on the River Thames in 1796. Built by Perry, Sons & Green at Blackwall for Abel Chapman and operated by the East India Company, she was about 1,432 tons and carried a crew of around 130–140. She was armed with about 36 guns, and on several voyages she sailed under a letter of marque.
Thames made eight voyages for the EIC between 1796 and 1815. Highlights:
- 1st voyage (1796–1798): Captain Robert Williams; Portsmouth to St Helena, Ambon, and Whampoa, then back to the Downs.
- 2nd voyage (1798–1801): Williams; Portsmouth to Bombay and China; she leaked at Portsmouth and had to unload part of the cargo to fix it, returning to the Downs in 1801.
- 3rd voyage (1802–1803): Williams; Bombay and Whampoa; back to the Downs.
- 4th voyage (1804–1805): Captain John Skottowe; Plymouth to St Helena and China; back to the Downs.
- 5th voyage (1806–1808): Captain Matthew Riches; Portsmouth to Penang and Whampoa; back via the Cape and St Helena.
- 6th voyage (1809–1810): Riches; Portsmouth to Whampoa; return via St Helena.
- 7th voyage (1812–1813): Riches; Torbay to St Helena, Bencoolen, Penang, Malacca, Whampoa; home via St Helena.
- 8th voyage (1814–1815): Riches; Portsmouth to Penang and Malacca; Whampoa; return via St Helena to the Downs.
Thames was sold for breaking up in 1816.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 13:22 (CET).