Har Harriet was a two-decker East Indiaman launched in 1802, constructed for service with the British East India Company (EIC). As an "extra ship," she was chartered for multiple voyages, serving primarily between England and India. The vessel's specifications are not detailed in the provided source, but as a two-decker, she would have been a sizable merchant ship designed for carrying cargo and passengers across long distances. Harriet’s operational history includes five complete voyages for the EIC. Her first voyage began when Captain William Lynch sailed from the Downs on 30 January 1803, heading for Madras and Calcutta. She successfully reached Madras on 21 May and Calcutta on 17 June. During this period, the resumption of war with France prompted Captain Lynch to acquire a letter of marque on 25 July 1803, indicating her armed status for possible engagement with enemy vessels. Harriet’s return journey took her via Kedgeree, Saugor, St Helena, and finally back to Long Reach, arriving on 1 May 1804. Her subsequent voyages followed similar routes, with departures from Portsmouth and arrivals in Indian ports like Madras and Calcutta. Notably, during her 1805/6 voyage, she again reached Calcutta and returned via Saugor, Point de Galle, and St Helena by September 1807. Her third voyage commenced in 1808, with Harriet sailing from Portsmouth and reaching Madras and Calcutta, before returning to the Downs in September 1809. A significant incident occurred on her sixth voyage; on 14 October 1812, while receiving cargo—primarily saltpetre and bales of hemp—at Calcutta, Harriet caught fire and burned to the water’s edge. The crew was saved, and her hulk was subsequently sold. Prior to this, her service was marked by participation in convoy operations, including an escort by HMS Culloden and HMS Terpsichore in 1809, during which she was involved in the perilous naval conflicts of the era. Harriet’s maritime significance lies in her role as a reliable East Indiaman, contributing to the British trade with India during the early 19th century. Her service record reflects the strategic importance of merchant vessels in supporting imperial commerce and wartime logistics.

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