‘Ready for Inspection’: the brand new East Indiaman Dutton lying in the Thames at Deptford in the autumn of 1781 as her owner, Mr Henry Rice, and his party prepare to board and inspect her in advance of her maiden voyage

Constructed ‘on the stocks’ as the Director but renamed before completion, the Dutton was launched from Barnard’s Yard at Deptford on 13 July 1781. Built for Mr Henry Rice, she was measured at 761 tons and began her career under the command of Captain James West. After loading her first cargo in the Thames, she headed for Portsmouth where she waited for other vessels to form up into a convoy before sailing on her maiden voyage on 6 February 1782, bound for India and then China. Returning home safely in May 1784, she then completed four more round trips to the East before being chartered as a troop transport for the West Indian Expedition in July 1795. After a disastrous start to her military duties, during which she had to put back into Plymouth as most of the troops aboard her were sick, she was then caught in a heavy gale, dragged her anchors and was wrecked off the Citadel at Plymouth on 26 January 1796. Declared a total loss, her wreck was sold for £850.

We are grateful to Michael Naxton for his assistance in preparing this catalogue entry.