The vessel John was launched in 1804 at Chepstow and served primarily as a West Indiaman, operating between Bristol and Jamaica. Built for J. Maxse & Co. of Bristol, she was first listed in Lloyd's Register in 1806. As a merchant ship, John played an active role in transatlantic trade and maritime commerce during the early 19th century. Throughout her service, John experienced notable incidents that highlight the perils of seafaring during this period. In February 1818, while off the coast of Ireland, she lost her rudder, leaving her in a state of great distress for several days. Her crew managed to hang a rudder that was twice lost, and after mounting a third rudder, they successfully reached Jamaica. Additionally, during a storm near Montego Bay on 8 March 1818, she and other vessels were driven ashore in Great River but were subsequently recovered without damage. In 1826, John transitioned from her traditional West Indies trade to longer voyages to Bengal, under a license from the British East India Company, following the EIC's loss of monopoly on Indian trade in 1813. Under the command of W. Dawson, she set sail for Bengal on 26 June 1826. Unfortunately, her career ended during this voyage when she was wrecked on 30 June 1827 on Western Sea Reef in the Bay of Bengal while en route from London to Calcutta. The wreck resulted in the tragic loss of four lives, though 17 survivors were rescued by the vessels Windsor and Woodford. Overall, John exemplifies the typical merchant vessel of her era, engaging in both transatlantic and Indian Ocean trade, and her history reflects the hazards faced by early 19th-century maritime commerce, including storms, navigational challenges, and the risks of long-distance voyages.

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