Cornwallis was a snow that the Honourable East India Company (EIC) had built in 1787 at Bombay Dockyard for the Bengal Pilot Service.

They were carrying some 360 settlers and supplies for six months to establish a settlement on North Andaman Island.

[4] Cornwallis was under the command of Captain C. Crawley, who on 27 December wrote a letter to Blair reporting on a mutinous attitude among the European members of his crew.

At the end of December Crawley was relieved of duty and replaced by Lieutenant Wales, of the Bombay Marine, who was then in command of the Ranger.

At the same time Cornwallis was removed from the Pilot Service and transferred to the Andaman Station.