Memphis was a French prize that in 1805 became a whaler in the British Southern Whale Fishery. She made one voyage as a whaler and then disappeared in 1807 early in the outbound leg of her second whaling voyage.
Career Memphis entered Lloyd's Register (LR) in 1806 with Hitchman, master, Jacobs & Co., owners, and trade London–South Seas. She was a French prize.LR Seq.№M1111. Captain Thomas Hitchman acquired a letter of Marque on 6 December 1805. In late 1805 or early 1806 he sailed her on a whaling voyage. On her way home she was at St Helena on 6 January 1807.British Southern Whale Fishery Database – Voyages: Memphis. Lloyd's List (LL) reported on 20 February that Memphis, Heitchman, master, had been driven ashore at Oldhaven, but that she was expected to be gotten off.LL №4128. Four days later LL reported that she had indeed been refloated.LL №4129. Memphis arrived back at London on 13 February.
Fate On 19 June 1807, Memphis sailed from Gravesend for Montevideo.LL №4163, Ship arrivals and departure (SAD) data. On 24 June she passed by Portsmouth, as did , Gardner, master, and Pandora, Anderson, master, all three whalers bound for the River Plate.LL №4164, SAD data. On 13 July the three vessels passed by Madeira, still bound for the Plate.LL №4182, SAD data.
Memphis was last sighted on 25 July 1807 while sailing from Madeira to the South Seas. There was no further trace of her thereafter; she was presumed to have foundered with the loss of all hands.
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