Mountbatten Medallic History of Great Britain and the Sea Medal: The Herefordshire

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Mountbatten Medallic History of Great Britain and the Sea Medal: The Herefordshire

AssociatedAssociated with Lord Mountbatten of Burma (Frogmore House, Windsor, England, 1900 - 1979)

Medallist John Pinches, Medallists

DateMay 2004

Object NameMedal

MediumSterling Silver

ClassificationsMedals

AcquisitionPresented in 2004 by Dr Joan M Burrell.

LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub

Object numberABDMS072500.39

Keywords

About MeThe ships of the East India Company were the largest merchant vessels of the 18th and early 19th centuries.In 1793 when the Company was at the height of its power, the fleet comprised 36 ships of the 1,200-ton class and 40 of 800 tons. They also employed vessels of 500 tons. The true size of these vessels is difficult to estimate today because, as one authority has put it, ' A good deal of make-believe and of down-right camouflage went into the measurements of the 18th century'. Many of the vessels were probably much larger than the tonnages given would indicate because light and harbour dues were based on tonnage, thus there was a strong incentive to reduce the declared size of the vessels to the smallest possible.

The ships did not belong to the East India Company but were chartered from 'ship's husbands' who built them with this one purpose in view. There were, of course, scandals from time to time over the terms and conditions under which vessels were hired, sometimes from the Company's own directors.

To travel in an East Indiaman, a passenger had to hire accommodation from the master who was permitted to retain the passage money as one of his perquisites. The passengers supplied their own furniture, and temporary cabins were built in the stern of the vessel and on deck. The master of an Indiaman could accumulate extensive capital from this source and from the right to carry small quantities of cargo on his own account. It was one of the recognised ways of establishing a fortune.

The vessels made one leisurely round voyage each year. The 'list of ships for the season 1796-97' gives the names of 34 vessels; 15 were taken up for the Bay of Bengal, five for Bombay, four for Bombay and China, four for China direct, two for India and China, and one each for four destinations in India.

The Herefordshire, 1,200 tons, was built in Bombay in 1803 and taken up by the East India Company on charter, as was their normal custom. In the season 1816-17, for example, she made a round voyage to Madras, Penang and China.

The reign of the Indiaman came to an end with the cancellation of the Company's monopoly in 1834.

The Mountbatten Medallic History of Great Britain and the Sea, John Pinches Medallists Ltd.