Amphitrite (1802 ship)

The Amphitrite was a merchant vessel built in Sunderland, England in 1802. She was primarily employed in trade between England and the colonies, notably New South Wales, Australia. The Amphitrite is most infamously known for her wreck on the coast of France near Boulogne-sur-Mer on August 31, 1833. At the time, she was transporting 108 female convicts, 12 children, and a crew of 13, bound for New South Wales. Due to a series of misunderstandings and bureaucratic delays on the part of the French authorities and the ship's captain, Captain John Hunter, no rescue attempts were initiated for a significant period, despite the ship being visible from the shore. Consequently, almost all aboard perished; only a handful of crew members were saved. The disaster led to significant public outcry and scrutiny regarding the treatment of convicts and the procedures for maritime emergencies. The wreck of the Amphitrite remains a tragic symbol of avoidable loss of life at sea and a cautionary tale about communication and responsibility in emergency situations.