Earl of Balcares

The full index of our ship stamp archive
Post Reply
shipstamps
Posts: 0
Joined: Fri Mar 13, 2009 8:12 pm

Earl of Balcares

Post by shipstamps » Wed Oct 01, 2008 7:18 am


The East Indiaman shown on the stamp corresponds in every way to the Earl of Balcarres, one of the best known and finest ships of her day. She was built of teak in the East India Company's own dockyard at Bombay in 1815, was of 1.417 tons burthen and carried 26 guns. In her early days she carried a crew of 130, consisting of her commander, six mates, surgeon and assistant surgeon, six midshipmen, purser, bo' sun, gunner, carpenter, master-at-arms, armourer, butcher, baker, poulterer, caulker, cooper, two stewards, two cooks, two bo'sun's mates, two carpenter's mates, one cooper's mate, two gunners mates one caulker's mate, six quartermasters, one sailmaker, seven officers' servants and 78 seamen. She was built like a frigate, her double row of ports being precisely like two-decked line-of—battle ships.
Owing to the expiration of the East India Company's charter in 1833, the Earl of Balcarres was sold, on September 17, 1834, to Mr. Joseph Somes, a London shipowner, for £10,700. She ended her career after over half-a-century of service, as a bulk on the west coast of Africa. She had been an unusually fast ship of her type, making, in 1836, a passage to Bombay of 79 days, from England. As speed was far from being the first consideration of her builders, and sail was always reduced at night, it was an exceptionally fine performance for a ship well past her prime. Joseph Some, who bought the ship, was formerly on the East India Company's payroll as a ship's husband, On the demise of the old "John Company", he commenced business on his own, and before long had his own ships trading to every part of the world. His houseflag only differed from the White Ensign in the canton, by having an anchor instead of the Union Jack.
SG780 Sea Breezes 3/69

aukepalmhof
Posts: 7771
Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:28 am

Re: Earl of Balcares

Post by aukepalmhof » Sun Oct 04, 2009 7:46 pm

She was built at the Bombay Dockyard for the East India Company.
25 March 1811 launched under the name EARL BALCARRAS (some sources give EARL OF BALCARRAS but that is wrong.)
Tonnage 1417 82/94 bm, dim. 139.0 x 43.10 x 17.2ft.
Built of teak. Ship rigged.
Armament of 26 guns. Crew 130 men.

She made her first voyage from England under command of Capt. James Jameson, sailed on 17 April 1816 direct for China, arrived back in England on 11 May 1817.
Her next voyages for the company were:
Sailed 31 Dec. 1817, returned 01 April 1819, a voyage to Bombay and China.
Sailed 27 Dec. 1819, returned 14 April 1821, a voyage to Bombay and China.
Sailed 11 Dec. 1821, returned 29 May 1823, a voyage for Bengal and China under command of Captain Peter Cameron, also her next 5 voyages were made under his command.
Sailed 26 Feb. 1824, returned 23 April 1825, a voyage for Bengal and China.
Sailed 03 March 1826, returned 16 May 1827, a voyage for Bengal and China.
Sailed 27 Feb. 1828, returned 13 June 1829, a voyage for Bengal and China.
Sailed 25 April 1830, returned 07 May 1831, China direct.
Sailed 25 May 1832, returned 25 May 1833, China direct.

17 Sep. 1834, sold to Thomas A.Shuter for £10.709, by this owner also used in the trade between England to India and the Far East.
1836 Made a passage of 79 days from England to Bombay, a fast voyage for a vessel of her type.
1848 Sold to Somes Bros. at London. At that time she was sheathed in yellow metal and partly in felt.
1849 Used for a voyage under command of Capt. Morice to Bombay.
May 1863 Sold to the African Steam Shipping Co. used as a hulk on the West Coast of Africa.
1875 Sold for breaking up.

Source: Ships of the East India Company by Rowan Hackman. Ship stamp Encyclopedia.
http://www.webruler.com/gprovost/ShipsE.htm
Great Britain 1969 9d sg780, Scott?
.
Attachments
1969 EARL OF BALCARES  East-Indiaman (2).jpg

Post Reply