The Duke of Athol, East Indiaman 1785

James Gillray created this print, “The Duke of Athol, East Indiaman,” which depicts the aftermath of a ship disaster. Gillray was a prominent British caricaturist during a time of immense social and political upheaval. Here, we see survivors in small boats, set against the backdrop of a burning ship and stormy seas. It’s a scene of chaos and desperation, but Gillray also manages to insert elements of satire. Note the exaggerated expressions and postures of the figures, which hint at the social commentary embedded in the piece. The East India Company, which owned the ship, was a symbol of British imperialism and its exploitative practices. Disasters at sea were not just tragedies, they also highlighted the human cost of empire-building. In many ways, this print captures the anxieties and contradictions of a society grappling with its own global ambitions. Gillray encourages us to reflect on the human stories behind the grand narratives of trade and exploration. What does it mean to build an empire on the backs of human suffering? This is a question that continues to resonate today.