On her third trip she was sailing to India to remain there when she was wrecked on 17 July 1755 at Bird Island in Algoa Bay, near present-day Port Elizabeth.

[3][4] The ship was carrying a hoard of gold belonging to Clive of India, which modern treasure hunters looted.

The controversy over these depredations resulted in changes to international maritime treaties to better protect underwater cultural heritage.

[1] Doddington sailed from Dover on 22 April 1755 bound to Fort St George in India under the command of Captain James Sampson.

[1] Doddington sailed in the company of Stretham (carrying Clive of India), Pelham, Edgecote, and Houghton.

The ships were separated en route to Porto Praya, but re-united again at the port where they all stopped to take on provisions.

[8][9] A third of the 1,200 gold coins were eventually returned to South Africa after a four-year legal wrangle in London.