Name Daphne Class and type Brig | Builder Built in Java Tons burthen 151 (bm) | |
Owner William Campbell, Sydney Fate Wrecked, 26 October 1818 in the Kent Group, Bass Strait | ||
Daphne was a brig constructed in Java and arrived in Australia 1814. She was wrecked without loss of life on 26 October 1818 in the Kent Group in Bass Strait.
Daphne departed Sydney bound for India on 10 October 1818 under the command of John Howard. As she passed through Bass Strait he stopped at several islands to purchase sealskins from sealers in the area. On 26 October a gale rose and Howard sheltered in the lee of East Island. Howard went ashore, probably to find sealers. On arriving on shore he noticed that Daphne was being driven towards the rocks. He returned on board but could do little to save the brig. He therefore ordered the passengers and crew to abandon ship. The passengers made it to shore safely but Daphne was totally destroyed.
The longboat was badly damaged and it took Howard and his crew some eight days to repair it. He then took his chief mate and three seamen and headed to Launceston on 4 August. Although he was blown off course, he eventually made Hobart on the 14 November 1818. There he chartered the sloop Governor Sorrell to rescue the eight passengers and crew remaining on East Island. Meanwhile, the John Palmer arrived and took on board some of the wreck survivors and attempted to head back to Hobart. However she wrecked too. One passenger lost her life. The survivors had to await the arrival of Governor Sorrel for their rescue.