Port au Prince (ship)
Encyclopedia
The Port au Prince was a tall ship
, a privateer
ship of war, of almost 500 tonnes
, armed with 24 long nine and twelve pounders as well as 8 twelve pound carronade
s on the quarterdeck
.
Originally built in France and owned by the French government until her capture by the English Navy off Port-au-Prince
, Haiti
. She then became the property of Mr. Robert Bent of London who, in 1805, gave the ship a twofold commission. The primary goal was to sail to the New World
and capture treasure from the Spaniards but if unsuccessful in that endeavour she should sail into the Pacific in search of whale
s. Under the command of Captain Duck, she weighed anchor, on what was destined to be her last voyage, from Gravesend
on February 12, 1805. She dropped anchor again for the last time on November 29, 1806 at an island called Lefooga (Lifuka
) in the Ha'apai Group, Kingdom of Tonga. It was here that the crew were massacred and the ship was burnt to the waterline, presumably sinking just off shore with her haul of treasure going down with her.
Tall ship
A tall ship is a large, traditionally-rigged sailing vessel. Popular modern tall ship rigs include topsail schooners, brigantines, brigs and barques. "Tall Ship" can also be defined more specifically by an organization, such as for a race or festival....
, a privateer
Privateer
A privateer is a private person or ship authorized by a government by letters of marque to attack foreign shipping during wartime. Privateering was a way of mobilizing armed ships and sailors without having to spend public money or commit naval officers...
ship of war, of almost 500 tonnes
Tonnage
Tonnage is a measure of the size or cargo carrying capacity of a ship. The term derives from the taxation paid on tuns or casks of wine, and was later used in reference to the weight of a ship's cargo; however, in modern maritime usage, "tonnage" specifically refers to a calculation of the volume...
, armed with 24 long nine and twelve pounders as well as 8 twelve pound carronade
Carronade
The carronade was a short smoothbore, cast iron cannon, developed for the Royal Navy by the Carron Company, an ironworks in Falkirk, Scotland, UK. It was used from the 1770s to the 1850s. Its main function was to serve as a powerful, short-range anti-ship and anti-crew weapon...
s on the quarterdeck
Quarterdeck
The quarterdeck is that part of a warship designated by the commanding officer for official and ceremonial functions. In port, the quarterdeck is the most important place on the ship, and is the central control point for all its major activities. Underway, its importance diminishes as control of...
.
Originally built in France and owned by the French government until her capture by the English Navy off Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince is the capital and largest city of the Caribbean nation of Haiti. The city's population was 704,776 as of the 2003 census, and was officially estimated to have reached 897,859 in 2009....
, Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
. She then became the property of Mr. Robert Bent of London who, in 1805, gave the ship a twofold commission. The primary goal was to sail to the New World
New World
The New World is one of the names used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically America and sometimes Oceania . The term originated in the late 15th century, when America had been recently discovered by European explorers, expanding the geographical horizon of the people of the European middle...
and capture treasure from the Spaniards but if unsuccessful in that endeavour she should sail into the Pacific in search of whale
Whale
Whale is the common name for various marine mammals of the order Cetacea. The term whale sometimes refers to all cetaceans, but more often it excludes dolphins and porpoises, which belong to suborder Odontoceti . This suborder also includes the sperm whale, killer whale, pilot whale, and beluga...
s. Under the command of Captain Duck, she weighed anchor, on what was destined to be her last voyage, from Gravesend
Gravesend, Kent
Gravesend is a town in northwest Kent, England, on the south bank of the Thames, opposite Tilbury in Essex. It is the administrative town of the Borough of Gravesham and, because of its geographical position, has always had an important role to play in the history and communications of this part of...
on February 12, 1805. She dropped anchor again for the last time on November 29, 1806 at an island called Lefooga (Lifuka
Lifuka
Lifuka is an island in the Kingdom of Tonga. It is located within the Haapai Group in the centre of the country, to northeast of the national capital of Nukualofa...
) in the Ha'apai Group, Kingdom of Tonga. It was here that the crew were massacred and the ship was burnt to the waterline, presumably sinking just off shore with her haul of treasure going down with her.