Swallow HMS (Carteret)

[shipstamps]

In 1767 Capt. Carteret, in H.M.S. Swallow landed on their eastern shores of the Solomons, at Gower Island. He passed along the group without however recognising that it formed part of the long lost Spanish discoveries. H.M.S. Swallow and the chart of the voyage is depicted or the recently issued Is. stamp of the British Solomon Islands. The vessel was a 30-year-old sloop at the time of the voyage; an exceptionally slow sailer, and was inadequately supplied and equipped. When Carteret complained about this he was told by the administration that the Dolphin, which was to be the accompanying ship on the voyage, would provide all supplies.
Sealed orders for the ship instructed the vessels to proceed round Cape Horn, or through the Straits of Magellan, whichever was most convenient, and then to search for lands between Cape Horn and New Zealand. If they failed to find them, and providing provisions and the health of the crews permitted, they were to proceed to China or the East Indies, returning home to England round the Cape of Good Hope. One can understand Carteret's exasperation when his consort outsailed him and lost him as soon as they reached the Straits.
The vessels left Deptford on August 22, 1766 and before reaching Patagonia the Swallow was leaking badly and her rudder was damaged. She kept on sailing while the Dolphin overtook her consort and left her behind. On August 12, 1767 the Swallow reached the Solomons, and her name is still perpetuated on the map. She eventually reached Spithead on March 20, 1769, after sailing around the world, probably the most ill-equipped ship ever to do so.
Carteret's ship the Swallow was built at Henry Bird's yard, Rotherhithe, from Sir James Acworth's draught, and launched on December 14, 1745. She was one of a numerous class of brig-rigged sloops, mostly named after birds. Her dimensions were 92ft. on deck, 751/2ft. keel length, beam 26ft. 31/2in., and 12ft. depth. Her tonnage was 278. She carried 14 guns and 110 men. H.M.S. Swallow served on the East India station in 1747-48, being present at the unsuccessful siege of Pondicherry, and in 1762 was employed as a temporary impress vessel at Liverpool. On Carteret's voyage she was old and badly-fitted, steering, working and sailing very poorly, although she proved a good sea-boat. She was sold immediately after arriving home.
Sea Breezes May & June 1956.
Jersey SG305 307/8 Papua NG SG545 Pitcairn Is SG67 315 531 St Helena SG493 768 Solomon Islands SG91 217


On March 1st 1967, the Pitcairn Islands celebrated the bi-centenary of the rediscovery of the islands by Carteret in the Swallow in 1767.
The rediscovery of Pitcairn was accidental, for the Swallow was returning from a search for Davis Land--the southern continent—and after searching fruitlessly in the region of Juan Fernandez, Carteret turned westwards on Quiros' track to come across Pitcairn Island, named after Midshipman Pitcairn of the Swallow, who first sighted the island. He was afterwards lost in the Aurora, in her passage to the East Indies. H.M.S. Swallow is depicted on the one shilling stamp.
I am indebted to the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, for the information about Carteret's ship. The Swallow was a 14-gun sloop, built at Henry Bird's yard, Rotherhithe, according to Sir J. Acworth's draught, in 1745. Her length was 91 ft. 101/4 ins., keel 75 ft. 73/4 ins, beam 26 ft 3i/2 ins, and depth 6 ft. 101/4 ins. Her tonnage was 278 and she carried a crew of 110 men in 1745, and 125 in 1762. It was Carteret's journal of the Swallow which guided Fletcher Christian to the islands after the Bounty mutiny.
SG67 SB 4/67


CARTARET PHILIP(1738-96) British Rear Admiral, was a lieutenant on HMS DOLPHIN during Captain John Byron's voyage round the world, 1764-6. On his return he was appointed to command the SWALLOW which, with the DOLPHIN commanded by Captain Samuel Wallis, was ordered to perform a second voyage of circumnavigation. The SWALLOW was separated from the DOLPHIN after passing through the Straits of Magellan and Cartaret completed the voyage alone, discovering unknown islands in the Polynesian and Melanesian groups, and making valuable surveys in the Philippines Islands. He returned to England in1769 and his many discoveries entitled him to be considered as one of the greatest explorers of his period. In 1779 he served with Lord Rodney in the West Indies and he retired in 1794 with the rank of rear admiral.

[Arturo]

Swallow HMS (Carteret)

Papua New Guinea 1988, S.G.?, Scott: 665.