The unfortunate Captain Peirce and the wreck of the Halsewell, East Indiaman a life and death in the maritime service of the East India Company /Philip Browne.

An account of the life of Captain Richard Peirce and the sinking of the ship Halsewell off the coast of Dorset in 1786. At the time of the sinking, Peirce had had a successful career with the East India Company and had commanded the Halsewell since its launch in 1778, completing two earlier voyages to India. Soon after departing on its third voyage, the Halsewell encountered bad weather, was damaged and finally ran aground on rocks. As a result of the sinking, Peirce and his two daughters lost their lives along with many other passengers and crew. The author also describes the aftermath of the wreck which received considerable attention: King George III viewed the site, the wreck became the subject of a Eidophusikon show combining pictures with lighting and sound effects, and the event was the subject of paintings and poetry. Includes an extract from the family tree of the Peirce family, a bibliography and detailed notes.