Lord Keith (1804 ship)
Lord Keith was launched in 1804 by and for Peter Everitt Mestaer. He chartered her to the East India Company for six voyages, and she then went on to make another two voyages for the EIC. On her second voyage, and unusually for an East Indiaman, she participated in the proceeds for the recapture of a former British Royal Navy brig and possibly in a skirmish with a French ship. On her third voyage she participated in a notable action. She was broken up c.1820.
Career
On 14 March 1804, the EIC chartered Lord Keith for six voyages at a rate of £13 14s/ton for peace freight, and £9 19s/ton for contingencies, based on a tonnage of 600 tons.EIC voyage #1 (1804-1805)
Captain Patrick Ramage acquired a letter of marque on 25 June 1804. He sailed from Portsmouth on 4 September, bound for Madras and Bengal. Lord Keith was at Madeira on 27 September, and reached Madras on 17 February 1805. She arrived at Diamond Harbour on 19 March. Homeward bound, she was at Saugor on 3 June, reached St Helena on 22 October, and arrived at The Downs on 23 December.EIC voyage #2 (1806-1807)
Captain Ramage sailed from Portsmouth on 10 June 1806, bound for St Helena and Bengal. Lord Keith reached St Helena on 22 August.Lloyd's List reported that the Indiaman Dover Castle had retaken, country-ship, at, on 30 December 1806. According to the account, Admiral Rainer had been captured by a corvette. The officers and men of the Indiamen Lord Keith and Dover Castle received salvage money in October 1810 for the recapture of Admiral Rainier on 31 December 1806, as did Ocean.
Lord Keith arrived at Diamond Harbour on 21 January 1807. She was at Saugor on 22 February and arrived at Bencoolen on 10 April. Ramage died at Fort Marlborough, i.e., Bencoolen. Lord Keiths First Officer was John Mayne. Lord Keith reached St Helena on 9 August, and arrived at The Downs on 10 November. The day before Lord Keith arrived at The Downs, she apparently skirmished with a French ship, but there is no further information available in online resources.
EIC voyage #3 (1808-1810)
Captain Peter Campbell acquired a letter of marque on 1 February 1808. He sailed from Portsmouth on 15 April 1808, bound for St Helena and Bengal. Lord Keith was at St Helena on 4 July, the Cape of Good Hope on 15 September, and Trincomalee on 10 December. She arrived at Calcutta on 22 January 1809. Homeward bound, she was at Saugor on 20 March.On 2 May 1809 she departed from the Sandheads with a convoy of four other Indiamen and several smaller vessels, all under the escort of HMS Victor. On 24 May a storm split the convoy and Victor and the small ships separately lost touch with the Indiamen. had a leak that had worsened. She received permission from Captain John Dale of, the senior EIC captain of the five vessels and so commodore, to sail to Penang. Hawes requested that another of the Indiamen accompany him in case Monarch foundered. Dale detailed to go with Monarch. The three remaining Indiamen, Streatham,, and Lord Keith continued on their way while hoping to meet up with Victor. They were unsuccessful.
The French frigate captured Streatham and Europe in the action of 31 May 1809. Lord Keith too exchanged broadsides with Caroline and was damaged, however she escaped and sailed to Penang to repair.
Lord Keith arrived at Penang on 10 June, a few days after Monarch and Lord Spencer. Repairs completed, all three then sailed together and reached St Helena on 14 November; they arrived at The Downs on 19 or 20 January 1810.