Preston was a Dano-Norwegian vessel that the British captured c.1809. As a British merchantman she initially traded with the Iberian peninsula. An American vessel captured and released her in 1812 and she foundered later that year.
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | Preston |
| Builder | Denmark[1]-Norway[2] |
| Acquired | 1809 by purchase of a prize |
| Fate | Foundered October 1812 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tons burthen | 161,[1] or 162[2] (bm) |
| Sail plan | Snow |
| Complement | 13 |
| Armament | 6 × 6-pounder guns + 4 × 12-pounder carronades[1] |
| Notes | Built of fir and oak |
Preston first entered Lloyd's Register (LR) in 1809 with Simpson, master, Ditchburn, owner, and trade London–Gibraltar.[2]
| Year | Master | Owner | Trade | Source & notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1811 | Simpson Ditchburn |
Ditchburn | London–Gibraltar | LR; thorough repair 1806 |
| 1812 | Ditchburn | Ditchburn | London–Corunna | Register of Shipping; small repairs 1811[1] |
Preston, Ditchburn, master, was sailing from Newfoundland to Trinidad in 1812 when she encountered the American letter of marque Lottery at 29°N 43°W / 29°N 43°W. Lottery took sails, cables, and other stores. Lottery then released Preston, which arrived at Trinidad on 15 September.[3] When Preston arrived at Trinidad, Ditchburn reported that the Americans had behaved more like pirates than privateersmen, looting private property and cabin stores.[4]
In October Preston foundered while on her way from Trinidad to London.[5] The Register of Shipping for 1813 carried the annotation "Lost" by her name.
Citations
editReferences
edit- Cranwell, John Philips; Crane, William Bowers (1940). Men of marque; a history of private armed vessels out of Baltimore during the War of 1812. New York: W.W. Norton & Co.