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History
United Kingdom
Name	Preston
Builder	Denmark-Norway
Acquired	1809 by purchase of a prize
Fate	Foundered October 1812
General characteristics
Tons burthen	161, or 162 (bm)
Sail plan	Snow
Complement	13
Armament	6 × 6-pounder guns + 4 × 12-pounder carronades
Notes	Built of fir and oak

Preston was a Dano-Norwegian vessel that the British captured c.1809. As a British merchantman she initially traded with the Iberian peninsula. An American vessel captured and released her in 1812 and she foundered later that year.

Preston first entered Lloyd's Register (LR) in 1809 with Simpson, master, Ditchburn, owner, and trade London–Gibraltar.^[2]

Year	Master	Owner	Trade	Source & notes
1811	Simpson Ditchburn	Ditchburn	London–Gibraltar	LR; thorough repair 1806
1812	Ditchburn	Ditchburn	London–Corunna	Register of Shipping; small repairs 1811^[1]

Preston, Ditchburn, master, was sailing from Newfoundland to Trinidad in 1812 when she encountered the American letter of marque Lottery at 29°N 43°W / 29°N 43°W / 29; -43. Lottery took sails, cables, and other stores. Lottery then released Preston, which arrived at Trinidad on 15 September.^[3] When Preston arrived at Trinidad, Ditchburn reported that the Americans had behaved more like pirates than privateersmen, looting private property and cabin stores.^[4]

In October Preston foundered while on her way from Trinidad to London.^[5] The Register of Shipping for 1813 carried the annotation "Lost" by her name.

Citations

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Register of Shipping (1812), Seq,№478.
^ ^a ^b ^c LR (1809), Supple. pages "P", Seq.№104.
^ Lloyd's List (LL) 30 October 1812, №4715.
^ Cranwell & Crane (1940), p. 181.
^ Lloyd's List 11 December 1812, №4727.

References

Cranwell, John Philips; Crane, William Bowers (1940). Men of marque; a history of private armed vessels out of Baltimore during the War of 1812. New York: W.W. Norton & Co.