Henry Meriton

Henry Meriton (1762–1826) was an English sea captain who worked for the British East India Company (EIC). During his service he was involved in a famous shipwreck and three naval engagements.

Henry was born in Rotherhithe. He first went to sea as an apprentice sailing on the slave ship John and Richard.[1]

In 1783 he began his career with the EIC, starting as Third Mate on Pigot.[2]: 111  He was second mate on Halsewell,[2] which foundered off Purbeck on 6 January 1786. He wrote an account of the shipwreck with John Rogers, Third Mate. He was subsequently Chief Mate on Albion,[3] Lord Macartney,[2] and also on Exeter.

Meriton was captain of Exeter on her fourth voyage. It was this voyage that gave Meriton his order of rank in the EIC. His rank as commander dated from 16 October 1799, when he was given command of Exeter.[4][5]

It was on this voyage that Meriton participated in a notable naval action in which Meriton and Exeter captured a French frigate.

Main article: Action of 4 August 1800

Meriton was still captain of Exeter on her fifth voyage when she participated in the Battle of Pulo Aura on 14 February 1804. A fleet of East Indiamen bluffed a French naval squadron into withdrawing, believing that the East Indiamen were a stronger British naval squadron.

Main article: Battle of Pulo Aura

After this voyage Meriton would go on to make several others for the EIC in different ships, with the result that in all he would hold the record of 12 voyages for the company.[6]

Meriton was wounded and captured in the action of 3 July 1810 while captain of Ceylon. This was his last voyage. He then served from 1813-25 as the Marine Superintendent for the EIC in Bombay.[7]

He died in Greenwich on 7 August 1826.

Works

• (1786) A circumstantial narrative of the loss of the Halsewell, East-Indiaman ... Compiled from the communications ... of Mr. Henry Meriton and Mr. John Rogers London: William Lane

Citations

1. "Arms, Armour & Militaria Sale on Wednesday 27th June 2012". Retrieved 16 March 2016.
2. Hardy (1800), p. 149.
3. Hardy (1811).
4. Hardy (1811), p. xv.
5. ’’Naval Chronicle’’, Vol. 2, p. 643.
6. Beck (1907), pp. 184–5.
7. Charles Rathbone Low, History of the Indian Navy: (1613-1863) (R. Bentley & Son, 1877), p. 475

References

• Beck, E.J. (1907). Memorials to serve for a history of the parish of St. Mary, Rotherhithe ...: with a chapter on the geology of the Thames Valley and of Rotherhithe by ... University Press.
• Hardy, Charles (1800). A Register of Ships, Employed in the Service of the Hon. the United East India Company, from the Union of the Two Companies, in 1707, to the Year 1760: Specifying the Number of Voyages, Tonnage, Commanders, and Stations. To which is Added, from the Latter Period to the Present Time, the Managing Owners, Principal Officers, Surgeons, and Pursers; with the Dates of Their Sailing and Arrival: Also, an Appendix, Containing Many Particulars, Interesting to Those Concerned in the East India Commerce. Charles Hardy.
• Hardy, Horatio Charles (1811). A register of ships, employed in the service of the Honorable the United East India Company, from the year 1760 to 1810: with an appendix, containing a variety of particulars, and useful information interesting to those concerned with East India commerce. Black, Parry, and Kingsbury.