THE LOSS OF THE EAST INDIAMAN KENT, 1825

THE SAVING OF THOSE ABOARD THE BURNING EAST INDIAMAN KENT WAS ONE OF THE MOST DRAMATIC SEA RESCUES OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY AND INDEED THE ENTIRE ERA OF SAIL. THE KENT, 1,332 TONS, WAS BUILT AT THE EAST INDIA COMPANY'S OWN YARD AT BLACKWALL, ON THE THAMES, IN 1820 AND HAD ALREADY COMPLETED THREE RETURN VOYAGES TO INDIA WHEN SHE WAS CHARTERED TO TRANSPORT THE OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE 31ST REGIMENT OF FOOT EN ROUTE FOR SERVICE IN THE EAST. LEAVING THE DOWNS ON 19 FEBRUARY 1825, THE KENT MADE GOOD PROGRESS UNTIL, ON 1 MARCH, DURING A SEVERE GALE IN THE BAY OF BISCAY, A LIGHTED LAMP WAS ACCIDENTALLY DROPPED INTO THE MAIN HOLD WHERE IT IMMEDIATELY IGNITED SOME SPIRITS WHICH HAD ESCAPED FROM A DAMAGED CASK. IN AN INSTANT THE HOLD WAS ABLAZE. THE FIRE SPREAD RAPIDLY AND WAS SOON THREATENING TO ENGULF THE SHIP WHILST THOSE ABOARD HER SAW LITTLE HOPE OF ESCAPE. AS IF BY A MIRACLE, THE CAMBRIA, A SMALL 200-TON BRIG COMMANDED BY CAPTAIN WILLIAM COOK AND CARRYING 36 CORNISH TIN MINERS TO VERA CRUZ, HOVE INTO SIGHT AND, DESPITE THE RELUCTANCE OF KENT'S OWN CREW TO ASSIST, RESCUED ALL BUT 82 PERSONS FROM THE BLAZING EAST INDIAMAN. THE CAMBRIA RETURNED TO FALMOUTH CRAMMED WITH 547 SURVIVORS AND WAS MET WITH A TUMULTUOUS RECEPTION BEFORE THOSE SAVED WERE SENT ASHORE IN THE CARE OF THE INHABITANTS OF THE WHOLE REGION.

SEVERAL ARTISTS PRODUCED WORKS COMMEMORATING THIS DISASTER, INCLUDING THOMAS BUTTERWORTH, WILLIAM DANIELL AND THOMAS LUNY.