Brief background of the first steamers of the I.F.C.

Published 2014 by the Anglo-Burmese Library

all rights reserved.

by
Hugh J. Chubb
Wri tten i n 1974

Earl y i n 1831 the H.E.I.C. pl aced an order wi th Messrs. Maudslay & Fi el d of Lambeth for four paddl e steamers
for use i n Bengal . The fi rst of these steamers was to be buil t and to run tri als on the Thames whi lst the other
three were to be pre fabri cated and shi pped to Cal cutta. The fi rst of these steamers was named Lord William
Bentinck after the Chai rman of the East India Co. She was launched at Lambeth on Jul y 7
th
1832. Later she
ran very successful tri als on the Thames and after these she was taken to pi eces and shi pped to India. Her
di mensi ons were, l ength 125ft. beam 22ft. wi th a draught of water of 2ft. Gross tonnage was 275 ol d
measurement. Her engi nes were al so by the buil ders and were si ngl e oscill ati ng type wi th two cyl i nders gi vi ng
a speed of seven mi l es per hour. Hulls were bui l t of Iron.

The names of the fi rst four were Lord William Bentinck, Thames, Megna and Jumna whi lst the second
si x were named Mahanuddy, Damodah, Nerbudda, Sutlej, Mamoon and Bhamo.

In 1852 four steamers named Lord William Bentinck, Damodah, Nerbudda and Mahanuddy went to
Burma to take part i n the second Burma war and were l ater foll owed by Sutlej, Jumna and Mamoon. Al l
were very successful i n their new rol e as gunboats and when Lower Burma was annexed they mai ntai ned the
companys servi ces i n the Del ta.

By 1865 the East India Company started getti ng ri d of i ts i nterests after the Muti ny and four steamers; Lord
William Bentinck, Damodah, Nerbudda and Mahanuddy were sol d to a newl y formed company named
the Bur ma Steam Shi p Company. However the Mahanuddy was i n bad condi ti on and though she was taken
over the new company asked for and recei ved the Jumna i n pl ace of her and she was converted i nto a flat as
were Sutl ej and Mamoon.