''Jane'' was an American vessel launched in 1810 or 1812 and taken in prize, first appearing in British registers in 1818. She then became a
whaler
A whaler or whaling ship is a specialized vessel, designed or adapted for whaling: the catching or processing of whales.
Terminology
The term ''whaler'' is mostly historic. A handful of nations continue with industrial whaling, and one, Japa ...
. Under the command of Captain James Weddell she explored the area around the
South Shetland Islands
The South Shetland Islands are a group of Antarctic islands with a total area of . They lie about north of the Antarctic Peninsula, and between southwest of the nearest point of the South Orkney Islands. By the Antarctic Treaty of 1 ...
and in 1823 reached the southernmost point ever reached until then. From about 1825 on she traded generally as a merchantman until she was condemned in 1829.
Career
''Jane'' first appeared in ''
Lloyd's Register
Lloyd's Register Group Limited (LR) is a technical and professional services organisation and a maritime classification society, wholly owned by the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, a UK charity dedicated to research and education in science and ...
'' (''LR'') in 1818 with Petterson, master, Stranger, owner, and trade Yarmouth–Straits
f Gibraltar
F, or f, is the sixth letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''ef'' (pronounced ), and the plural is ''efs''.
His ...
She was described as an American prize.''LL'' (1818), Supple. pages "J", Seq.№J8. /ref> James Strachan (not "Stranger") was a shipbuilder in North Leith, a partner in "Strachan & Gavin" shipbuilders. Strachan and James Mitchell, a Scottish insurance broker living in London, owned ''Jane''.
1st whaling voyage (1818–1819): ''Jane'' sailed from London on 21 April 1818, and returned on 19 January 1819, with 325 casks of whale oil.British Southern Whale Fishery Database − Voyages: ''Jane''. /ref>
The 1819 volume of ''LR'' showed her master as Petterson, changing to J.Beddell, her owner as Strachan, and her trade as London–Gibraltar, changing to London–South Seas. "J.Beddell" was actually James Weddell, a former
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against Fr ...
officer. Strachan engaged Weddell to take ''Jane'' whaling.
In 1820, news of the discovery of the
South Shetland Islands
The South Shetland Islands are a group of Antarctic islands with a total area of . They lie about north of the Antarctic Peninsula, and between southwest of the nearest point of the South Orkney Islands. By the Antarctic Treaty of 1 ...
had just broken, and Weddell suggested that fortunes might be made in the new sealing grounds.
2nd whaling voyage (1820–1821): Captain James Weddell sailed ''Jane'', of or from Greenock, for the
South Shetland Islands
The South Shetland Islands are a group of Antarctic islands with a total area of . They lie about north of the Antarctic Peninsula, and between southwest of the nearest point of the South Orkney Islands. By the Antarctic Treaty of 1 ...
on 28 July 1820. ''Jane'' returned to Britain on 13 April 1821, with a full cargo of 220 tons of whale oil.
Weddell's first voyage as captain of ''Jane'' was so profitable that Strachan and Mitchell acquired a second ship, ''Beaufoy''. She was a small (66 tons burthen) sloop that they either built, or that had been built in 1803 at Dover and that they bought.
3rd whaling voyage (1821–1822): Captain Weddell, by now a part-owner in ''Jane'', sailed on 13 July 1821 for the South Shetland Islands. ''Jane'', Waddell, master, and her tender, ''Beaufoy'', were reported to have been at New South Shetland on 3 February with 800 seal skins and 60 tons of oil. However, there were some 45 sealers operating in the area, and
seal
Seal may refer to any of the following:
Common uses
* Pinniped, a diverse group of semi-aquatic marine mammals, many of which are commonly called seals, particularly:
** Earless seal, or "true seal"
** Fur seal
* Seal (emblem), a device to imp ...
were already becoming rare (a mere two years after the discovery of the islands), and so he scouted for new hunting grounds. Michael McCleod, captain of ''Beaufoy'', sighted the
South Orkney Islands
The South Orkney Islands are a group of islands in the Southern Ocean, about north-east of the tip of the Antarctic PeninsulaPowell and
Palmer
Palmer may refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Palmer (pilgrim), a medieval European pilgrim to the Holy Land
* Palmer (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters
* Palmer (surname), including a list of people and ...
just a few days earlier. Waddell returned on 19 July 1822 with 145 casks of oil and 1,200 seal skins.
4th whaling voyage (1822–1823): ''Jane'' and ''Beaufoy'' sailed from Gravesend on 13 September 1822, bound for the South Seas. ''Jane'' had just been sheathed, coppered and repaired. However, while ''Jane'' was lying at anchor in the Downs, ''Susannah of Star Cross'' ran into her, damaging ''Jane''s bowsprit, sails, and rigging. After these had been replaced, ''Jane'' proceeded on 17 September on her journey to the New South Shetland Islands. On her way to Patagonia and South Shetland, ''Jane'' called at Madeira.
''Beaufoy'',
Matthew Brisbane
Matthew Brisbane (1787 – 8 August 1833) was a Scottish mariner, sealer and notable figure in the early history of the Falkland Islands.
Early life
Little is known of Brisbane's early life. He was born in Perth, Tayside in 1787 but his ...
, master, sailed with ''Jane''. Sealing proved disappointing, though, and after searching for land between the South Shetlands and the South Orkneys (and not finding any), they turned south in the hope to better sealing ground there. The season was unusually mild and tranquil, and on 20 February 1823, the two ships had reached . This was the southernmost position any ship had ever reached up to that time. They sighted a few icebergs but no land. Weddell theorized that the sea continued as far as the South Pole but two days' sailing would have brought him to
Coats Land
Coats Land is a region in Antarctica which lies westward of Queen Maud Land and forms the eastern shore of the Weddell Sea, extending in a general northeast–southwest direction between 20°00′W and 36°00′W. The northeast part was discov ...
(to the east of the
Weddell Sea
The Weddell Sea is part of the Southern Ocean and contains the Weddell Gyre. Its land boundaries are defined by the bay formed from the coasts of Coats Land and the Antarctic Peninsula. The easternmost point is Cape Norvegia at Princess Martha ...
. Instead, Weddell decided to turn back.
''Jane'' returned to Britain on 17 July 1824, from the South Seas and Montevideo with 60 (or 66) casks of oil, 3,076 seal skins, 14 leopard seal skins, plus hides and horns. The seal skins fetched between ten and 21 shillings each. The hides and horns came from Montevideo.
After ''Jane''s return Strachan had her repaired and employed her as a merchantman.
Fate
''LL'' reported on 7 July 1829 that ''Jane'', Weddell, master, had been condemned at Fayal. It again reported on 20 April 1830 that ''Jane'', Weddell, master (late), had been condemned at Fayal.
On her passage from
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires ( or ; ), officially the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires ( es, link=no, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires), is the capital and primate city of Argentina. The city is located on the western shore of the Río de la Plata, on South ...
to
Gibraltar
)
, anthem = " God Save the King"
, song = "Gibraltar Anthem"
, image_map = Gibraltar location in Europe.svg
, map_alt = Location of Gibraltar in Europe
, map_caption = United Kingdom shown in pale green
, mapsize =
, image_map2 = Gibr ...
''Jane'' had leaked so badly that she had to be given up at the
Azores
)
, motto =( en, "Rather die free than subjected in peace")
, anthem= ( en, "Anthem of the Azores")
, image_map=Locator_map_of_Azores_in_EU.svg
, map_alt=Location of the Azores within the European Union
, map_caption=Location of the Azores wi ...
. Weddell and his cargo were transferred to another ship for the passage to England, but this ran aground on the island of Pica, and Weddell only barely survived. He later was master of , and died in 1834.