The Lady Nelson: A Small Ship with Big Achievements

View of the Lady Nelson in the Thames wood engraving from 'The Narrative of a Voyage of Discovery, performed in His Majesty's Vessel the Lady Nelson in the years 1800, 1801, and 1802...' by James Grant, published in London in 1803. 14 x 19.5 cm (image). On 13 November 1798, a small 60-ton brig-rigged ship, fitted with an unusual sliding keel system for work in shallow waters, was launched at the Royal Navy's Deptford Dockyard. Because of her diminutive size she soon acquired the nickname HM Tinderbox, although officially she was Lady Nelson. Philip Gidley King was in England preparing to replace Governor Hunter, and he persuaded the Admiralty to assign the new ship for exploration and communication in New South Wales. Under the command of Lieutenant James Grant and with only 14 men, she reached the Cape in July 1800, where Grant received news of the discovery of Bass Strait. After a three-month layover to avoid the winter weather, the ship resumed her voyage, now aiming to transit the strait en route to Port Jackson. She became the first ship to do so from west to east and after 10 weeks' continuous sailing from the Cape reached her destination.