Name Minorca Tons burthen 407 ⁄94 (bm) Launched 1799 | Namesake Minorca Propulsion Sail | |
Builder Thomas Hearn, Lowlights, Newcastle upon Tyne Fate Last listed in Lloyd's Register in 1810 | ||
Minorca was merchant ship launched in 1799 at Newcastle upon Tyne, England. She made one voyage in 1801 transporting convicts to New South Wales. For her return voyage to Britain she was under contract to the British East India Company.
Under the command of John Leith, she sailed from Spithead, England on 21 June 1801 in convoy with Canada and Nile, and reached Rio de Janeiro on 29 August. All three vessels arrived at Port Jackson on 14 December 1801. The next day Minorca was at Sydney Cove. Minorca had left with 104 male convicts, of whom five died during the voyage.
Minorca left Port Jackson on 6 February 1802 bound for China. By 28 April 1802 Minorca was at Whampoa.
For her homeward voyage she reached Macao on 26 May, Amboina on 5 August, the Cape on 2 November, and St Helena on 2 November. She arrived at the Downs on 10 February 1803.
The Napoleonic Wars broke out in March and Leith received a letter of marque on 22 April 1803, i.e., dated after he had left Britain. In 1803 her owners sold Minorca to Reeve & Co.
Lloyd's Register for 1804 reports that Minorca's master was J. Sunter, her owner Reeve & Co., and her trade Plymouth to Cork. That entry continued unchanged through 1810.