Elizabeth 1801 ship

Elizabeth was a British East India Company (EIC) ship launched in Liverpool in 1801. She completed one voyage for the EIC before being wrecked during her second outbound journey in December 1810, resulting in significant loss of life.

Her career began with a voyage to the Cape of Good Hope and China under Captain Stephen Hawes. Elizabeth returned to London and Amsterdam during the Peace of Amiens. By 1806, she was operating from India, owned by Framjee Cowajee and managed by Beale & Magniac in Hong Kong. She reappeared in Lloyd's Register in 1810 as a London–India trader under new ownership.

On her final voyage, Elizabeth sailed from Portsmouth on October 27, 1811, bound for Bengal with 382–402 people aboard, including 30 European passengers and 347 lascars. After encountering severe weather, she anchored off South Foreland on December 26 but was driven toward the French coast by strong winds. On December 27, her rudder broke, causing her to drift into Breebank near Dunquerque, France.

The wreck resulted in only 22 survivors—six Britons and 15 lascars—who were taken prisoner by the French before being repatriated. The British exchanged them for French prisoners, though initial efforts to rescue failed due to harsh conditions. Elizabeth's remains scattered along the coastline with no survivors beyond the 22.