The Dart was a merchant vessel launched at Dartmouth in 1799, primarily engaged in the transatlantic slave trade during her brief operational period. Constructed at Dartmouth, she first appeared in Lloyd's Register in 1799, indicating her registration and recognition within maritime records of the era. Throughout her career, Dart completed two documented slave trading voyages originating from Liverpool. Her first voyage (1800–1801), commanded initially by Captain James Martin, commenced on 24 June 1800. Captain Martin acquired a letter of marque on 6 May 1800, suggesting potential for privateering, although her primary activity was slave trading. Dart traveled to West Africa, with her activities centered around Cape Coast Castle and Lagos Onim, where she purchased slaves. After acquiring slaves, she stopped at Prince's Island before arriving in Demerara on 30 May 1801 with 190 slaves. She returned to Liverpool on 20 September 1801, having left with 33 crew members and suffering seven crew deaths during the voyage. Her second slave voyage (1802–1804) saw Edward Crosby initially as master, later replaced by Thomas Curry and subsequently Christopher Eskildon. Dart set sail from Liverpool on 6 January 1802, again heading to West Africa to acquire slaves at Lagos Onim. She stopped at Prince's Island before arriving in Demerara on 26 November 1802 with 190 slaves. She returned to Liverpool on 2 February 1804. During this voyage, she left Liverpool with 21 crew members and experienced seven crew deaths. Tragically, Dart's service ended in 1804 when she was wrecked early in her third voyage, specifically on 14 July off Cape Bajadore, while bound for West Africa. The Lloyd's List reported her total loss, but her crew was saved. Her short operational span and involvement in the slave trade mark her as a vessel of significant historical interest in maritime and colonial history.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.