The Marquis Cornwallis was a merchant vessel constructed in Calcutta around 1789 or 1791, notable for its diverse maritime service during the late 18th century. Originally registered under the name Il Netunno, the ship traded between India and Europe under the Genoese flag to circumvent the East India Company's monopoly. In 1794, Michael Hogan acquired the vessel and re-registered her as Marquis Cornwallis under the British flag, gaining admittance to the Registry of Great Britain on 23 September 1794. The ship's dimensions measured by Perry, Blackwall, are not specified in the provided content. Under Hogan’s command, the vessel undertook significant voyages, including a notable convict transport mission in 1796. Departing Cork, Ireland, on 9 August 1795 with a crew, convicts, soldiers, and their families aboard, Marquis Cornwallis embarked on a voyage to Port Jackson, arriving on 11 February 1796. The voyage carried 163 male and 70 female convicts, but was marred by a mutiny about a month into the crossing. The mutiny resulted in the deaths of seven convicts and a sergeant, with injuries sustained from flogging, and the ship stayed nearly a month at the Cape to re-provision. In total, 11 male convicts died during the voyage. Following her arrival at Port Jackson, Marquis Cornwallis left for Norfolk Island and later sailed to Madras and Calcutta, with Governor Hunter's permission adding four 6-pounder guns and 140 cannonballs salvaged from the wreck of Sirius. Her voyage took her through the Coral and Solomon Seas, with Hogan claiming to have sighted volcanic activity on Bougainville Island, which later became a notable landmark on charts. Later, under a new captain, John Roberts, and in service of the East India Company, Marquis Cornwallis completed voyages from Calcutta to Madras, the Cape, St. Helena, and back to Britain, arriving at the Downs on 25 July 1797. She also made a second voyage to Australia in 1798, transporting cattle from the Cape of Good Hope to Sydney. Lloyd's Register in 1799 lists her under the ownership of Lennox & Co., with C. Mullion as master, engaged in London-India trade, a record that persisted until 1806. After this, her career records cease, marking her as a vessel of considerable activity during the transitional period of late 18th-century maritime commerce and exploration.

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