HMS Investigator (1798)

• Fram
• Xenophon

• 22 guns

The HMS Investigator was a ship of the Royal Navy. From 1802 it was under the command of Lieutenant Matthew Flinders and was the first ship to completely circumnavigate Australia.

History

The Investigator was built in 1795 as a coal freighter in Sunderland and used under the name Fram until 1798 in North East England for such transports. About 1798 it was purchased by the British Royal Navy. After an extensive renovation, it was armed with 22 guns and made a small escort ship and sloop under the name Xenophon in service. Through the subsequent improvised and remodeling, were cut at the gunports, the ship had several structural weaknesses and licked chronically at specific locations. In 1801 it was rebuilt again converted for a larger expedition and christened the investigator. On January 25, 1801 Lieutenant Matthew Flinders took command and made his famous travel by boat, where it was first completely circumnavigated Australia. Finally, the investigator was in such a miserable condition that they had to be put into Port Jackson ( Sydney ) out of service. However, after some major repairs and re- conversions they could return to England in 1805 and remained until 1810 in service. Then it was sold and served until 1853 again under the name Xenophon as a trading ship. The last change of ownership was registered in 1868. 1872, the ship was finally scrapped in Melbourne.