Henry Meriton
Henry Meriton(1762–1826) was anEnglishsea captain who worked for the BritishEast India Company(EIC). During his service he was involved in a famous shipwreck and three naval engagements.
Henry was born inRotherhithe.He first went to sea as an apprentice sailing onJohn and Richard,which was involved in theslave trade.[1]
In 1783 he began his career with the EIC, starting as Third Mate onPigot.[2]: 111 He was second mate onHalsewell,[2]which foundered offPurbeckon 6 January 1786. He wrote an account of the shipwreck with John Rogers, Third Mate. He was subsequentlyChief MateonAlbion,[3]Lord Macartney,[2]and also onExeter.
Meriton was captain ofExeteron her fourth voyage. It was this voyage that gave Meriton his order of rank in the EIC. His rank as commander dated from 16 October 1799, when he was given command ofExeter.[4][5]
It was on this voyage that Meriton participated in a notable naval action in which Meriton andExetercaptured a Frenchfrigate.
Meriton was still captain ofExeteron her fifth voyage when she participated in the Battle of Pulo Aura on 14 February 1804. A fleet of East Indiamen bluffed a French naval squadron into withdrawing, believing that the East Indiamen were a stronger British naval squadron.
After this voyage Meriton would go on to make several others for the EIC in different ships, with the result that in all he would hold the record of 12 voyages for the company.[6]
Meriton was wounded and captured in theaction of 3 July 1810while captain ofCeylon.This was his last voyage. He then served from 1813-25 as the Marine Superintendent for the EIC in Bombay.[7]
He died inGreenwichon 7 August 1826.
Works
[edit]- (1786)A circumstantial narrative of the loss of the Halsewell, East-Indiaman... Compiled from the communications... of Mr. Henry Meriton and Mr. John RogersLondon: William Lane
Citations
[edit]- ^"Arms, Armour & Militaria Sale on Wednesday 27th June 2012".Retrieved16 March2016.
- ^abcHardy (1800),p. 149.
- ^Hardy (1811).
- ^Hardy (1811),p. xv.
- ^’’Naval Chronicle’’, Vol. 2, p. 643.
- ^Beck (1907),pp. 184–5.
- ^Charles Rathbone Low,History of the Indian Navy: (1613-1863)(R. Bentley & Son, 1877), p. 475
References
[edit]- Beck, E.J. (1907).Memorials to serve for a history of the parish of St. Mary, Rotherhithe...: with a chapter on the geology of the Thames Valley and of Rotherhithe by...University Press.
- Hardy, Charles (1800).A Register of Ships, Employed in the Service of the Hon. the United East India Company, from the Union of the Two Companies, in 1707, to the Year 1760: Specifying the Number of Voyages, Tonnage, Commanders, and Stations. To which is Added, from the Latter Period to the Present Time, the Managing Owners, Principal Officers, Surgeons, and Pursers; with the Dates of Their Sailing and Arrival: Also, an Appendix, Containing Many Particulars, Interesting to Those Concerned in the East India Commerce.Charles Hardy.
- Hardy, Horatio Charles (1811).A register of ships, employed in the service of the Honorable the United East India Company, from the year 1760 to 1810: with an appendix, containing a variety of particulars, and useful information interesting to those concerned with East India commerce.Black, Parry, and Kingsbury.