Charlotte was an English merchant ship built on the River Thames in 1784 and chartered in 1786 to carry convicts as part of the First Fleet to New South Wales.

She returned to Britain from Botany Bay via China, where she picked up a cargo for the British East India Company.

[9] On 15 March, when Charlotte had been two days at sea it was discovered that her third mate had been left behind at Plymouth; he was replaced for the remainder of the voyage by a seaman hastily dragooned from the accompanying naval vessel Hyaena.

[13] This voyage was commemorated on the Charlotte Medal, commissioned by White and created by the convict Thomas Barrett.

[14] She left Port Jackson on 6 May 1788 bound for China to take on a cargo of tea, under charter to the East India Company.

[17] They continued on via Abemama, Kuria, Aranuka, Tarawa, Abaiang, Butaritari, and Makin without attempting to land on shore.