Alexander (1799 ship)

Alexander was launched in France or Spain in 1797, probably under another name, and taken in prize circa 1799, when she was lengthened and raised. She was registered at Liverpool in 1801 and proceeded to make six voyages as a slave ship. She then sailed to Brazil and the West Indies and was last listed in 1809.

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

History
France, or Spain
Launched: 1797
Captured: circa 1799
Great Britain
Acquired: 1799 by purchase of a prize
Fate: Last listed in 1809
General characteristics
Tons burthen: 327[1][2] (bm)
Complement:
Armament:
  • 1799:20 × 6-pounder guns[2]
  • 1799:20 × 6-pounder guns + 2 × 18-pounder carronades
  • 1801:22 × 6&9-pounder cannons[2]
  • 1804:22 × 6&12-pounder cannons[2]

Career

Alexander first appeared in Lloyd's Register (LR) in 1800.[1]

Year Master Owner Trade Source
1800 Threlfall Tetherton Liverpool–Africa LR; lengthened 1799

Captain Joseph Threlfall acquired a letter of marque on 8 October 1799.[2]

1st slave voyage (1799–1800): Captain Threlfall sailed from Liverpool on 29 October 1799. Alexander acquired her slaves at Bonny and arrived at Kingston, Jamaica on 8 July 1800 with 310 slaves. She left Kingston on 2 or 6 September in company with Vanguard and some other vessels sailing to Liverpool, and arrived back at Liverpool on 3 November. She had left Liverpool with 51 crew members and she suffered 12 crew deaths on her voyage.[3]

Captain John Ainsworth acquired a letter of marque on 6 August 1801.[2]

2nd slave voyage (1801–1802): Captain Ainsworth sailed from Liverpool on 5 September 1801. Alexander acquired her slaves at Bonny and arrived at Grenada on 3 April 1802 with 322 slaves. She may also have delivered some at Suriname. She sailed from Grenada or Suriname via Antigua, and arrived back at Liverpool on 15 June. She had sailed from Liverpool with 48 crew members and she suffered four crew deaths on her voyage.[4]

3rd slave voyage (1802–1803): Captain Ainsworth sailed from Liverpool on 18 September 1802. Alexander acquired her slaves on the Windward Coast, in the area between Rio Nuñez and the Assini River. She arrived at Demerara on 1 March 1803. She returned to Liverpool on 31 May. She had left Liverpool with 37 crew members and she suffered four crew deaths on the voyage.[5]

Year Master Owner Trade Source & notes
1804 Ainsworth
Ward		 Benson Liverpool–Africa LR; lengthened 1799

Captain Henry Ward acquired a letter of marque on 14 February 1804.

4th slave voyage (1804–1805): Captain Ward sailed from Liverpool on 7 April 1804. Alexander started acquiring her slaves on the Gold Coast on 27 May. She arrived at Demerara on 23 November with 338 slaves. She left Demerara on 26 January 1805 and arrived back at Liverpool on 13 April. She had left with 52 crew members, and eight died on the voyage.[6]

5th slave voyage (1805–1806): Captain Ward sailed from Liverpool on 12 August 1805. Alexander acquired her slaves on the Gold Coast and left Africa on 8 February 1806. She arrived Kingston on 22 March 1806 with 336 slaves. She left Kingston on 2 May and arrived at Liverpool on 11 June. She had left Liverpool with 52 crew embers and suffered eight crew deaths on the voyage.[7]

6th slave voyage (1807–1808): Captain Ward sailed from Liverpool in February 1807. As she left, on 12 February another vessel ran afoul of her in the Mersey, causing some damage, carrying away all of her upper work on the starboard side of her quarterdeck.[8][9] Alexander acquired her slaves on the Gold Coast and arrived at Kingston on 30 November. On 25 November a French privateer captured Lucy, an American vessel sailing from Curacoa to Philadelphia. Alexander recaptured Lucy, which then arrived in Jamaica.[10] Alexander departed Kingston on 11 April 1808 and arrived back at Liverpool on 29 May. She had left Liverpool with 50 crew members and she suffered eight crew deaths on the voyage.[11]

The Slave Trade Act 1807 made it illegal for British vessels to engage in the slave trade. The Act took effect on 1 May 1807, so Alexander's last voyage was still legal as she had cleared customs outward bound in February.

Year Master Owner Trade Source & notes
1808 H.Ward Benson &. Co. Liverpool–Africa
Liverpool–Brazils		 LR; lengthened 1799
1809 H.Ward Barker & Co. Liverpool–West Indies Register of Shipping; good repair 1808

Fate

Alexander, Ward, master, was last listed in 1808 in LR, and in 1809 in the Register of Shipping.

Citations
  1. LR (1800), Seq.No.A244.
  2. "Letter of Marque, p.49 - accessed 25 July 2017" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  3. Trans Atlantic Slave Trade Database – Alexander voyage #80160.
  4. Trans Atlantic Slave Trade Database – Alexander voyage #80161.
  5. Trans Atlantic Slave Trade Database – Alexander voyage #80162.
  6. Trans Atlantic Slave Trade Database – Alexander voyage #80163.
  7. Trans Atlantic Slave Trade Database – Alexander voyage #80164.
  8. "The Marine List". Lloyd's List (4127). 17 February 1807. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  9. "SHIP NEWS". Lancaster Gazette and General Advertiser, for Lancashire, Westmorland, &c. (Lancaster, England), Saturday, February 21, 1807; Issue 297.
  10. "The Marine List". Lloyd's List (4226). 5 February 1808. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  11. Trans Atlantic Slave Trade Database – Alexander voyage #80165.
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