 Paddle steamerMadagascar consumed by fire during a typhoon at the entrance to theFormosa Channel. From an engraving by E. Duncan, based on a painting by W. J. Huggins after an original sketch by Capt. Dicey. | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Builder | Blyth and Sons,London |
| Launched | 1838 |
| Homeport | Mauritius |
| Fate | Burned and sunk, September 1841 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Paddle steamer |
| Tons burthen | 201 |
| Installed power | Coal |
| Propulsion | Paddle wheels |
Madagascar was a 19th-centurypaddle steamer that served theBritish Empire as a troop transport in theFirst Opium War, during which conflict an accidental fire destroyed her.[1]
Blyth and Sons builtMadagascar as awooden paddle steamer of 201 tons (bm) in 1838. By 1840 her homeport wasMauritius.[2]
Following the decision of the British Parliament to send anexpeditionary force to China,Foreign SecretaryLord Palmerston began to muster soldiers and ships for the upcoming war (which later became known as theFirst Opium War) with theQing Dynasty. In preparation for the China campaign, the British Government purchased theMadagascar as part of the Royal Navy's efforts to consolidate and strengthen its forces in theFar East.
In the spring of 1840, theMadagascar was ordered toSingapore, where the expedition was gathering. The steamer quickly departed Bengal, but due to its high consumption of coal on her voyage toPenang, the crew had to burn her yards andsail booms.[3][4]
The steamer was attached to the China Squadron, in which she served as a troop transport and supply ship. When the British fleet approachedPeking to negotiate with the Chinese government, the shallow-drafted (a feature that allowed the ship to cross sandbars in the shallowYellow Sea)Madagascar was used as a meeting site between British and Qing officials. The steamer continued to follow the main British fleet, and participated extensively in thePearl River campaign. After theSecond Battle of Canton the steamer departed China to make repairs in India. On her return trip to China in September 1841, she caught fire around 80 miles off the coast of the newly acquired British base atHong Kong. Thelascars and British crew evacuated the ship after it was discovered that the fire had spread toMadagascar's coal stores. The men in the boats were 10 miles away when they later saw her blow up when her ammunition detonated. The Chinese captured the crew, but the crew were able to pass themselves off as Americanmerchants and were later released atMacau.[1][5]
McPherson, Duncan, and Bob Carruthers (2013) "The First Opium War, The Chinese Expedition 1840–1842, the illustrated edition". (Coda Books).ISBN 978-1781583609