HMS Roebuck (1690)

HMS "Roebuck" was a small ship of the Royal Navy and, under the command of William Dampier, carried the first English scientific expedition to Australia.

Launched as an 8-gun fireship at Wapping on 17 April 1690, the 299 ton (builder's measure) ship was 96 feet long and 25.5 feet wide.colledge] As a 26 gun fifth rate, the ship was placed under the command of William Dampier in his first voyage as a commander. After many years as a merchant, privateer, travel writer and explorer, Dampier was given a commission and commanded the first English scientific expedition to Australia. HMS "Roebuck" was reported to be old and in poor condition. During the expedition, "Roebuck" was extensively repaired in Batavia, Indonesia (now Jakarta). On the return voyage, "Roebuck" was leaking so badly that in February 1701 Dampier put into a cove on Ascension Island in the South Atlantic.

Despite days of heroic baling, Roebuck gradually settled to the bottom of the cove. All aboard were saved, and rescued a few weeks later. Dampier lost most of his specimens and notes, but some material was saved, including herbarium specimens that still exist in the Oxford University Herbarium. Traces of the "Roebuck" were located in 2001, 300 years after the sinking, including the ship's bell. After conservation, artifacts were returned to a museum on the island.

No drawings or plans of HMS "Roebuck" are known to exist, although notional images have appeared on several postage stamps.

External links

* [http://www.heritage.org.ac/HS53.htm HMS Roebuck Wreck Located ]

References