Kronprinsessen af Danmark (also spelled Cronprincessen af Danmark and Cron Prinsessen af Danmark)) was an East Indiaman of the Danish Asiatic Company, launched at Asiatisk Plads in 1745. She made three expeditions to Tranquebar. She was able to make it only to the Cape of Good Hope on her last homebound voyage but her cargo was later picked up by two other ships.
Construction
The Kronprinsessen af Danmark was built at the Danish Asiatic Company's own shipyard. She was named for the British-born crown princess, Louisa, whose spouse ascended the Danish throne as Frederick V in the following year.[1] The construction cost was 31,435 rigsdaler.[2]
Career
1745–47
Kronprinsessen a Danmark was captained by Emanuel Sporing on her first expedition to Tranquebar. She set sail from Copenhagen on 15 December 1745, carrying a cargo with a total value of 130,000 rigsdaler of which 121,629 rigsdaler (94%) was silver and the rest (8,371 rigsdaler) was "other metals". The extraordinarily bad and unsanitary standard of the food led to numerous complaints from crew members. After calling at Atchin in Sumatra, Kronprinsessen af Danmark finally arrived at Tranquebar on 9 July 1746.
Kronprinsessen af Danmark departed from Tranquebar on 3 February 1747. The problems with the unsanitary standards of the food continued to such an extent that the ship's cook ended up being sentenced to 50 lashes with the cat o' nine tails as well as a fine of one month's salary. Just five hours after receiving the sentence, he committed suicide by jumping overboard.[3]
On the homebound voyage, Kronprinsessen af Danmark called at the Cape of Good Hope for supplies. Before she was ready to continue the voyage, she was caught in bad weather. The lives of several crew members were lost when a barge capsized in an effort to save the ship.
On 7 September 1747, after 631 days, Kronprinsessen af Danmark was finally able to salute Kronborg Castle to mark her safe return to Danish waters.[2]
Legacy
The ship bell is in the collection of the National Museum of Denmark. It features the name of the ship as well as the letters "DAC" (Danish Asiatic Company) and the year "1745".[6] The ship protocol is kept in the National Archives of Denmark. A commented edition has been published.[7]
Further reading
- Kvist, Palle, Michael Dupont and Jørgen Mikkelsen: Mellem København og Tranquebar. På rejse med Asiatisk Kompagnis skib Kronprinsessen af Danmark 1748-1750. Selskabet for Udgivelse af Kilder til Dansk Historie /e med Handels- og Søfartsmuseet på Kronborg (2011)
- Nørgård, Georg: Storm over Kap (comprehensive summary in English)
External links
References
- Enkeltskibser: Kronprinsessen af Danmark jmarcussen.dk, 12 June 2022, retrieved 2 April 2023^
- Marstal, Helle. Asiatisk Kompagnis handel på Indien 1732 til 1751 dwis.dk, retrieved 2 April 2023^
- Selvmord og skibskapring: Tag med Asiatisk Kompagni på en dramatisk rejse til Indien i 1700-tallet