Dictionary of Sydney

The Dictionary of Sydney was archived in 2021.

Neptune

At 809 tons the largest convict transport ship of the Second Fleet which lost 30% of the 500 convicts aboard due to ill treatment and disease.

Milestone
Constructed
River Thames, London, England
1779
Position
1790
1790
1790
1790
1790
1790
1790
1790
1790 - 1791
19 Jan 1790 - Apr 1790
19 Jan 1790 - Apr 1790
19 Jan 1790 - Apr 1790
Property
Part of
Type

Neptune

CC BY-SA 2.0
,
2016
Neptune, one of three ships known as the 'death fleet,' was the largest ship of the Second Fleet. Chartered by slave traders, Neptune had the highest mortality rate of all the ships, with over 160 deaths. Many of those who survived the ordeal went on to prosper in the new colony including William Baker, George Salter and Molly Morgan.