| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | Emu |
| Namesake | Emu |
| Owner | 1812:W.Hurry |
| Launched | 1812, Liverpool[1] |
| Captured | 30 November 1812 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Brig,[2] orSnow[2] |
| Tons burthen | 182,[2] or 220 (bm) |
| Propulsion | Sail |
| Complement | 21[2] |
| Armament |
|
Emu was a merchant ship built at Liverpool in 1812 thattransportedconvicts to Australia. An American privateer captured her in 1812 as she was carrying female convicts toVan Diemen's Land.
GovernorLachlan Macquarie requested on 30 April 1810 that the British Government supply the colony with two brigs for the colony's use that would not be subject to the control of the Admiralty. The British government providedEmu andKangaroo.
Emu was launched at Liverpool in 1812. She entered theRegister of Shipping (RS) in the 1813 volume as abrig built in Liverpool in 1812. Her master was A. Hall, her owner was W. Hurry, and her trade was London–Botany Bay.[1]
Lieutenant Alexander Bisset received aletter of marque forEmu on 21 September 1812.[2]Emu left England in October 1812 with 49 female convicts.
Emu, Bissett, master, parted from her convoy and its escort,HMS Java, on 24 November.[3]
While she was en route toHobart Town, the American 18-gun privateerHolkar, Captain J. Rolland,[4] captured her on 30 November 1812 in the Atlantic.Holkar putEmu's 22 crew and the 49 female convicts ashore on 17 January 1813 atPorto Grande on the island ofSt Vincent (now São Vicente) in theCape Verde Islands.[4]LL reported on 16 April 1813 thatHolkar had capturedEmu, of 10 guns and 25 men, on 16 November, and put crew and convicts ashore at Cape Verde on 15 January 1813.[5]
Aprize crew tookEmu toNewport, Rhode Island where arrived at about 10 February.[6] Her captors soldEmu at Newport.[4]
After 12 monthsIsabella picked upEmu's captain, crew, and convicts and returned them to England. The convicts were placed on a hulk inPortsmouth harbour and subsequently sent aboard the transportBroxbornebury toPort Jackson.[4]
A United States newspaper report stated thatEmu was a "king's ship", of 12 guns, and carrying a great quantity of ammunition. She also had a patented anti-boarder in defence in the form of bayonets on springs afixed to her bulwarks. The newspaper also reported that the arrogant commander, a naval lieutenant, could not persuade his crew to resistHolkar. The news item did not mention the female convicts.[7]
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