' - cargo saved.' Master: Hill Date of Loss Qualifier: R Additional sources cited in United Kingdom Shipwreck Index. Lloyds List No.5137, 24.12.1816(Tue)(R); BOT.SCS.Wk.1816 Appx.7 p284

`The REGENT steam packet, from London to Margate, was burnt to the water's edge on Wednesday afternoon, near Whitstable. Passengers and crew saved.' (2)

02-JULY, REGENT, London to Margate, burnt off Whitstable. (4)

`TOTAL DESTRUCTION BY FIRE OF THE REGENT MARGATE STEAM PACKET. On Wednesday morning last, this vessel, commanded by Capt. Harvey, left London for Margate, with between 40 and 50 passengers on board; and it appears, from accounts received in town, that when off Whitstable, which is 18 miles from the port of destination, she was discovered to be on fire: at this time she was also three miles from the main land. As a vessel of this description never carries a boat larger than sufficient to hold her own crew, which seldom exceeds a dozen persons, the consternation of between 40 and 50 passengers may be better conceived than described. The fire was discovered to proceed from the furnaces used for the boilers of the steam engines, and to gain rapidly on the exertions of those on board. The vessel was seen from the shore, and one account states, that she was met by several boats from Whitstable, who succeeded in getting all on board safe to land; and this account seems corroborated by the following notice, which was posted, in the afternoon, at Lloyd's:- "The REGENT steam-packet, bound to Margate, was burnt to the water's edge, yesterday afternoon, off Whitstable. Crew and passengers saved."

`The cause of the fire is stated to be as follows: The gale of wind being strong, blew the chimney flue away, and the wood work, that is nearly breast high from the deck, at the bottom of the flue, for the purpose of keeping the people near the chimney from burning themselves, caught fire; the men in throwing the buckets over for water to put it out, lost them, consequently the fire was not checked, and the captain immediately made for land, and got all the people, and crew, and luggage, safe ashore, but the vessel is almost entirely consumed.' (4)

Master: Harvey (4)
Passengers: 40 - 50 (4)

Date of Loss Qualifier: A

<1> United Kingdom shipwreck index, Page Nos. N/a (Bibliographic reference). SKE6340.

<2> Lloyd's, 1969, Lloyd's list 1741-1945 (Bibliographic reference). SKE6342.

<3> Larn, Richard and Bridget, 1995, Shipwreck index of the British Isles, volume 2 : Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Sussex, Kent (Mainland), Kent (Downs), Goodwin Sands, Thames (Bibliographic reference). SKE31910.

<4> 1836, Parliamentary papers - 1836, Select Committee on Shipwreck (Miscellaneous Material). SKE56009.