Emergencies and World Disasters
The Ship That Left No Pieces: Vanished from the 1815 Convoy
23 min•19 september 2026
Om avsnittet
The Ship That Left No Pieces: Vanished from the 1815 Convoy
A ship that had crossed the Indian Ocean seven times left not a single fragment, body, or final port in the records - just a blank entry in Lloyd’s Register for 1816. How can a heavily built East Indiaman, armed and experienced, simply cease to exist without a trace?
In this episode, we present the known movements and incidents of the Preston from launch to disappearance, charting her voyages, engagements, and cargo changes to ask what circumstances could explain her total erasure from the registers. Could surviving past storms and battles offer any clue to a vanishing so absolute?
Person: Captain Henry Sturrock
Date: Launched 1798
Event: Encounter with French warships on 7 August 1805 at 19°03′S, 17°15′E
Date: Arrived The Downs 23 May 1809 after surviving hurricane circa 20 November 1808 at ~10°S, 90°E
Location: Part of convoy departing Jamaica August 1815 (eight vessels; none reached London)
- Launched in 1798 as an East Indiaman built for lengthy trade and armed defense.
- Carried a letter of marque dated 16 July 1803 authorizing combat action.
- Engaged French ships Marengo and Belle Poule on 7 August 1805 with Rear-Admiral Troubridge’s convoy.
- Survived the same November 1808 hurricane that sank three convoy ships: Lord Nelson, Glory, and Experiment.
- Lloyd’s Register for 1816 contains no entry for the Preston, with no wreck position, final port, or list of survivors.
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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].
A ship that had crossed the Indian Ocean seven times left not a single fragment, body, or final port in the records - just a blank entry in Lloyd’s Register for 1816. How can a heavily built East Indiaman, armed and experienced, simply cease to exist without a trace?
In this episode, we present the known movements and incidents of the Preston from launch to disappearance, charting her voyages, engagements, and cargo changes to ask what circumstances could explain her total erasure from the registers. Could surviving past storms and battles offer any clue to a vanishing so absolute?
Person: Captain Henry Sturrock
Date: Launched 1798
Event: Encounter with French warships on 7 August 1805 at 19°03′S, 17°15′E
Date: Arrived The Downs 23 May 1809 after surviving hurricane circa 20 November 1808 at ~10°S, 90°E
Location: Part of convoy departing Jamaica August 1815 (eight vessels; none reached London)
- Launched in 1798 as an East Indiaman built for lengthy trade and armed defense.
- Carried a letter of marque dated 16 July 1803 authorizing combat action.
- Engaged French ships Marengo and Belle Poule on 7 August 1805 with Rear-Admiral Troubridge’s convoy.
- Survived the same November 1808 hurricane that sank three convoy ships: Lord Nelson, Glory, and Experiment.
- Lloyd’s Register for 1816 contains no entry for the Preston, with no wreck position, final port, or list of survivors.
To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.
© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].
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