Clarendon was built in 1807 at Whitehaven. Between 1808 or so and 1813 she sailed as a West Indiaman between London and Jamaica. In 1814 she sailed for Batavia under a license from the British East India Company (EIC). The privateer Young Wasp captured Clarendon off the Cape of Good Hope (the Cape), on 6 January 1815, and she arrived at Baltimore on 15 April.
Clarendon first appeared in Lloyd's Register (LR) in the volume for 1808.[1]
| Year | Master | Owner | Trade | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1808 | J.Hudgen | Still & Co. | Whitehaven–Cork | LR |
| 1810 | J.Hodgen J.Scott | Still & Co. | London–Jamaica | LR |
15 February 1813 Clarendon, Scott, master, was at Deal, preparing to sail for Jamaica. A gale came up that cost her her anchors. Other vessels at Deal were blown out to sea.[2]
In 1813 the EIC lost its monopoly on the trade between India and Britain. British ships were then free to sail to India or the Indian Ocean under a license from the EIC.
| Year | Master | Owner | Trade | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1814 | J.Scott | Still & Co. | Liverpool–Jamaica London–India | LR |
| 1815 | J.Scott | Mestaers | London–India | LR |
On 1 March 1814 Captain Thomas Lynn acquired a letter of marque On 25 February Clarendon sailed for Batavia.[3]
On 8 January 1815 the United States privateer Young Wasp captured Clarendon of the Cape as Clarendon was returning to London from Batavia. Clarendon arrived at Baltimore on 15 April.[4] There she was condemned in prize. She had on board 1,150,000 pounds of coffee, a quantity of "elephants teeth", "Japan wood", etc.[5] [6]
Young Wasp had a burthen of 418 tons, was armed with 20 guns, and had a crew of 150 men. American records describe Clarendon as carrying 24 guns and having a crew of 50 men, and being captured off the Cape of Good Hope.