Lord Keith was a British merchant vessel launched in 1804, most likely at Liverpool. Named after Admiral George Keith, 1st Earl of Kintore, the ship entered service during the early 19th‑century expansion of British overseas trade.
Construction and specifications
- Builder: Recorded as being built at the Liverpool shipyards, though the precise yard is not definitively documented.
- Launch year: 1804.
- Tonnage: Approximately 500 bm (burthen), typical of medium‑sized merchantmen of the period.
- Rig: Full‑rigged ship.
Service history
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East India Company (EIC) voyage (1805‑1806):
- Lord Keith undertook a single chartered voyage for the British East India Company.
- The voyage generally followed the standard EIC route to the Indian subcontinent, delivering goods to ports such as Madras or Calcutta and returning with cargoes of tea, textiles, and other commodities.
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West Indiaman trade (post‑1806):
- After completing the EIC charter, the vessel was employed in the West Indies trade, transporting goods between British Caribbean colonies and the United Kingdom.
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Transport duties:
- In later years, Lord Keith served as a transport ship, carrying troops, provisions, and other cargoes as required by the British government and private contractors.
Fate
- The ship was wrecked in 1818. Contemporary shipping registers note the loss but provide limited details on the circumstances or location of the wreck.
Historical context
Lord Keith exemplifies the dual commercial and governmental roles that many British merchant vessels fulfilled during the Napoleonic Wars and the subsequent post‑war period. Ships of this class were integral to sustaining the empire’s trade networks and supporting military logistics.
References
- Lloyd’s Register of Shipping (1805‑1818 editions) – entries for “Lord Keith.”
- British East India Company voyage records, 1805‑1806.
- Contemporary newspaper reports (e.g., The Times, 1818) documenting the wreck.
Note: While the above information reflects data available in historic maritime registers and contemporaneous reports, some specifics—such as the exact shipyard and details of the 1818 wreck—remain limited in the surviving documentary record.