| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | Albuera |
| Namesake | Battle of Albuera |
| Builder | Nicol Reid, Aberdeen[1] |
| Launched | 17 February 1826[1] |
| Fate | Wrecked 24 October 1829 |
| General characteristics[1] | |
| Tons burthen | 138 (bm) |
| Length | 71 ft 5 in (21.8 m) |
| Beam | 21 ft 0 in (6.4 m) |
| Depth | 12 ft 9 in (3.9 m) |
Albuera was launched at Aberdeen in 1826. An Argentine privateer seized her in late 1828 and she was detained until March 1829. She was wrecked on 24 October 1829.
Albuera appeared in theRegister of Shipping in 1827 with Bothwic, master, Amesley & Co., owners, and trade London–Trieste.[2][a]Albuera traded widely, reaching the Mediterranean, the Baltic, and South America.
On 28 February 1826 the "new brig Albuera of Aberdeen", Captain Borthwick, struck the point of Annet Sand while coming in to Montrose during a gale. She grounded, but was floated off at the next tide without damage.[3]
On 1 February 1828Felix, Campbell, master, arrived at Liverpool from Buenos Aires. On 27 January 1828 she had spokenAlbuera at16°20′N88°7′W / 16.333°N 88.117°W /16.333; -88.117 (off what is nowBelize). At the timeAlbuera was actually a prize to the Argentine privateerGeneral San Martin, under the command of Captain [Samuel] Adams.[4] Argentina was at the time atwar with the Empire of Brazil.[5]
The privateer had seizedAlbuera on 23 December 1827, and put a prize crew aboard. She reachedPatagonia on 19 January 1828; on 23 January Borthwick submitted a protest toCarmen de Patagones, headquarters of the Argentine commandant of Patagonia. On 21 July the prize court at Buenos Aires clearedAlbuera. On 16 October Borthwick, still in Patagonia withAlbuera, received the news thatAlbuera had been cleared. He could repossess her, minus the cargo of gunpowder she had been carrying. On 6 November Borthwick took possession ofAlbuera, under protest, and made repairs. Borthwick sailedAlbuera on 26 December and reached Buenos Aires on 6 January 1829. There a second survey was ordered, which recommended the sale of her cargo. A third survey, on 20 February 1829, found that damages having been repaired, she was fit for any voyage and any cargo. Borthwick entered a protest in the Consular Register of the British Consulate in Buenos Aires on 2 March 1829.[6][b]
On 24 October 1829Albuera struck theHaisborough Sands, in theNorth Sea off the coast ofNorfolk and sank. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage fromNewcastle upon Tyne toGibraltar.[7] She had apparently struck some wreck on the Sands and sank in deep water; her crew was saved.[8]