Swallow was a teak-built packet ship that the British East India Company (EIC) launched at Bombay in 1779.

Her most notable exploit occurred on her seventh voyage, when she helped capture seven Dutch East Indiamen on 15 June 1795.

Her whereabouts between 1811 and 1815 are obscure, but in 1815 J. Lyney, of London, purchased her and she sailed to the West Indies and to India as an EIC-licensed vessel until she wrecked on her way to Calcutta in 1823.

Lord Macartney, the new governor of Madras, Mr. Staunton and Mr. Lacelles, his Lordship's secretaries, Col. Cowper, Mr. Kerin of the county Clare, and Mr. Exshaw of Dublin, with several other passengers.

In that year Captain Sober Hall sailed from India, reaching Limerick, which she left on 4 October 1782, and arriving at The Downs on 10 April 1783.

[9] Swallow left Bengal on 16 August 1785 under the command of Capt Richard Bendy, though Captain Robert Anderson may have replaced him at some point on the voyage.

[4] Captain Robert Anderson and Swallow left the Downs on 26 June 1788 and Falmouth on 26 August, reaching the Cape on 5 November and arriving at Calcutta on 25 January 1789.

She left Diamond Harbour on 19 August, reached St Helena on 28 October, and arrived at the Downs on 10 January 1790.

[12] Three days later, the British captured the Dutch Indiaman Hougly, which Swallow escorted into St Helena, before returning to the squadron with additional seamen.

On 1 July, Sceptre, General Goddard and the prizes sailed from St Helena to gather in other returning British East Indiamen.

Because the captures occurred before Britain had declared war on the Batavian Republic, the vessels became Droits to the Crown.

[c] Lilly underwent fitting out, including receiving a heavier armament than the EIC provided, between 21 August and 11 December.

[5] During this period, two privateers captured a tender that was serving Lilly and the crew aboard her were prisoners at Cumaná (now part of Venezuela), for several months.

The botched landing only resulted in two Spanish garda costas, Argos and Celoso, capturing two of Miranda's vessels, Bacchus and Bee.

The Spanish government put 60 of the men they had captured on trial in Puerto Cabello, and sentenced ten to being hanged and quartered.

As Spain was then at war with Britain, the governor of Trinidad Thomas Hyslop agree to provide some support for a second attempt.

[18] Lilly left Port of Spain on 24 July, together with Express, Attentive, Prevost, and Leander, carrying General Miranda and some 220 officers and men.

General Miranda decided to land in La Vela de Coro and the squadron anchored there on 1 August.

[19] Although Campbell was next in line for a promotion, the letter notifying the Admiralty of his acting command of Lilly did not arrive in time.

On 29 March 1808, Cerberus, in company with Lilly, Pelican, Express, Swinger and Mosambique, sailed from Marie-Galante to attack the island of La Désirade.

[20] On 21 April Mosambique chased and captured the French letter of marque brig Jean Jacques.

Sherriff, the commander of the squadron to which Mosambique belonged, reported that he was particularly pleased at the capture as Jean Jacques had been sent out for "the express Purpose of cruising in these Seas, and, from her superior Sailing, would have proved a great Annoyance to the Trade."

[20] The Principal Officers and Commissioners of His Majesty's Navy offered the "Lily Sloop, 352 Tons", lying at Portsmouth, for sale on 17 November 1811.

It showed her as being of 361 tons (bm), with master W. Oliver, and owner J. Lyney, sailing on 15 February 1818 to Bombay for the EIC.

[26] Swallow was wrecked on 16 June 1823 on the James and Mary Shoal, near Fultah, on the River Hooghly, while sailing from London for Calcutta.