ALEXANDER (First Fleet)

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1784 Launched as ALEXANDER.
Two decks
Tonnage 444 tons, dim.34.84 x 9.44m.
After completing her first master was John Sinclair.

1768 Was she chartered by the Navy Board for a voyage as transport to Botany Bay, New South Wales.
In her officially register is given that she was barque rigged.
She was fitted out for the voyage at Deptford.
06 January 1787 184 male convicts embarked in Woolwich, a few days later a few more convicts embarked.
28 January she sailed from Woolwich and arrived the 22 February at the Mother bank in the Solent where she dropt her anchor.
By 15 April 11 convicts had died on board the ALEXANDER, and a lighter took off the sick convicts so the vessel could be thoroughly cleaned, smoked, sponged with oil and tar and white-washed.
It was not total effective; the prisoners still on board began to recover, but an other five died before sailing.
13 May 1787 the fleet got underway and the ALEXANDER under command of Captain Duncan Sinclair with on board 195 convicts left the anchorage on the Mother bank.
03 June the fleet reached Tenerife during the voyage 5 convicts died bringing the total to 21 men since embarkation and 21 prisoners on the sick list.
One prisoner escaped in the jolly boat but he was recaptured the next day.
After restoring with fresh produce on 16 June the fleet sail from Tenerife.
27 July when shortening sail she lost on of the sailors which fell from aloft overboard and drowned.
During the crossing to Rio de Janeiro a plot was discovered between some sailors and prisoners, the sailors had supply to the prisoners a crowbar and other equipment which the convicts planned to use after arrival in Cape Town to escape.
The ringleader was the same which had escaped and was caught in Tenerife, John Poweres. He was sent to the HMS SIRIUS where he was heavily ironed and stapled to the deck. Also three sailors from the ALEXANDER were transferred to the SIRIUS.
The convict informer who had revealed the plot in danger for his life was transferred to the SCARBOURGH.
25 November when the weather improved the commander of the fleet Philip went to the SUPPLY and together with the ALEXANDER, FRIENDSHIP and SCARBOROUGH this for ships set all sails and left the SIRIUS with the rest of the fleet behind.
20 December the ALEXANDER carried away her fore top sail yard in the slings.
28 December the ship was washed with vinegar.
19 January 1788 she arrived in Botany Bay.
26 January she left Botany Bay and together with the other vessels of the fleet sailed to Port Jackson.
13 or 14 July 1788 she sailed from Port Jackson together with the FRIENDSHI, PRINCE OF WALES and BORROWDALE bound for Canton.
During the voyage scurvy decimated the crew of the ALEXANDER and FRIENDSHIP and when the FRIENDSHIP was scuttled her crew were transferred to the ALEXANDER.
01 June 1789 she arrived in the River Thames from Canton.
1792 Her London registry cancelled and she was registered in Hull.
After 1808 she disappears from the records.
Australia SG1064/66
Norfolk Islands 1987 55c sg422, scott
Solomo Islands 1973 15c sg238, scott?
See also http://www.shipstamps.co.uk/forum/viewt ... 564#p11564
Source: The Convict Ships 1788-1868 by Charles Bateson. Ships of the East India Company by Rowan Hackman.