Vansittart (1718 EIC ship)

Vansittart was an East Indiaman of the British East India Company, launched in October 1718 on the River Thames. She sailed from the Downs on 18 January 1719, bound for Madras, and under the command of Captain Robert Hyde (or Hide). She was wrecked on 2 March at Maio, Cape Verde.[2]

For other ships with the same name, see Vansittart (East Indiaman).

History
KIngdom of Great Britain
Name: Vansittart
Namesake: Peter van Sittart, father of Henry Vansittart
Owner: Hugh Raymond[1]
Operator: British East India Company
Builder: River Thames[1]
Launched: October 1718[1]
Fate: Wrecked 1719
General characteristics [2]
Tons burthen: 480 (bm)
Complement: 96
Armament: 34 guns

Her loss provided the opportunity for what may have been the first, or at least an early operational trial of a diving suit. John Lethbridge had invented one in 1715.[3]

In April 1721 a salvage expedition set out from Spithead. It comprised two ships Audrey (of 380 tons (bm) and 36 guns), and Jolly Batchelor (20 guns). The British Royal Navy provided the frigate HMS Launceston to protect them from pirates. The salvors recovered substantial quantities of silver from Vansittart using a suit that Jacob Rowe had designed and then patented in 1720. When the operations finished on 2 August, the salvors had recovered almost 75K ounces of the 141K ounces of silver that she had carried, as well as 878 slabs of lead, plus guns and anchors.[4]

Citations and references

Citations

  1. Hackman (2001), p. 208.
  2. British Library: Vansittart (1).
  3. Thornton, Mike; Randall, Robert; Albaugh, Kurt (March–April 2001). "Then and Now: Atmospheric Diving Suits". UnderWater magazine. Archived from the original on 9 December 2008. Retrieved 18 March 2012.
  4. Earle (2007), pp. 191-218.

References

  • Earle, Peter (2007) Treasure Hunt: Shipwreck, Diving, and the Quest for Treasure in an Age of Heroes. (Macmillan). ISBN 9780413776389
  • Hackman, Rowan (2001). Ships of the East India Company. Gravesend, Kent: World Ship Society. ISBN 0-905617-96-7.
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