Earl Fitzwilliam

Posted by Jon Miller on Tuesday 16th of June 2026 15:36

The Earl Fitzwilliam East-Indiaman, homeward bound for London, is burnt in Bengal River. [Kentish Post, 6 September 1799]

Posted by Jon Miller on Sunday 31st of May 2026 18:56

Particulars of the loss of the Earl Fitzwilliam Indiaman, by one of her officers :-
At half past eleven o’clock, we were alarmed with the cry of the gun-room being on fire, upon which every one came on deck; the steerage was full of smoke, which appeared to come from the gun-room scuttle. Every exertion was made to quell the fire, which in the short space of five minutes, was universal, by the flames coming up the companion, and setting fire to the splinter netting.
Finding at this time, nothing could be done to save the ship, every one tried to save himself; the spars, gratings, &c were thrown overboard; upon which the lascars immediately jumped. The ship was riding flood, and the wind from the southward. All the officers and Europeans went forward; about eighteen went on the spritsail-yard, endeavouring to cut it away; only on one side the braces were cut so that one yard-arm was in the water and the other in the air; by the time we were on the yard, about five minutes, the main-mast went, with a horrible crash, over the starboard gangway, but in the fall, one end of it was entangled with the gun, so that it remained by the ship. The fire at this time was very violent; these guns, which that afternoon were double-shotted, were going off in dreadful peals.
We remained in this situation, upon the yard, about one hour and a half, expecting the ship to blow up every instant. From the situation of the spritsail-yard, the people at the lower end were very much incommoded and fatigued; one poor fellow let go his hold, and sunk instantly. Mr Frazer was at the lower end, and seeing Mr Franklin, whom he had agreed to keep company with, upon a hencoop, bid us farewell, and endeavoured to swim for it. He got there, but was so exhausted, that he pulled Mr Franklin three times off the coop, and then sunk beneath his feet.
By this time the Nonsuch’s boats came within two hundred yards of the ship, and there remained. The people, on seeing the boats, called to them in the most pathetic manner to save them. The Thetis’s boat, with the 5th officer, now came within an oar’s length which they gave into our hands, and hauled on board as many as the boat could take, and then pulled off for the ship. Too much credit cannot be given to this gentleman, who, meeting with another of their boats, left us, and again went to the ship. A young lad, a midshipman of the Thetis, in a sloop’s boat with two hands in her, went close to the ship, and picked the men off the wreck, and gave them to the large boats, who at this time time kept at a distance. This he did till they were all taken off.
The ship struck on Saugor Sand about four o’clock, and continued burning till the morning. Mr Frazer and five Europeans were lost; the number of lascars are not ascertained, but is supposed to be small.
The quantity of Company’s cargo was considerable; 4,500 bags salt-petre, and 600 bales. Most of the Captain’s and officers’ private trade were on board. With respect to the accident, or how it happened, there is no certainty in any of the reports. [Hull Packet, 5 March 1800]