Capt. James Thomson

Duke of Roxburgh was a 417-ton sailing ship under Captain James Thomson: She was the third of the New Zealand Company ships to arrive in New Zealand, and the first to be carrying "settlers" - the first two ships, Tory and Cuba, arriving earlier. Duke of Roxburgh left Gravesend, England, in late 1839 under Thomson with 167 emigrants on board (80 males and 87 females). She called at Plymouth, leaving there on 5 October 1839, bound for Wellington, New Zealand. On arriving in New Zealand after a voyage of 125 days, and as had been arranged before they departed England, she headed for Port Hardy on D'Urville Island for instructions. Unfortunately, off Stephen's Island "there was a strong gale from the south-east when she arrived off the port, and during a squall the vessel made an extra heavy lurch, which threw Captain Thomson into the sea. Every effort was made to rescue him, but there was too much sea on for a boat to live". On 7 February 1840, Colonel Wakefield went out to the heads in the Cuba and brought the Duke of Roxburgh into the harbour at Port Nicholson. At about that time a whale and calf happened to come into Wellington Harbour, and "went gambolling about between Matiu / Somes Island and the eastern side of the harbour".