Tam O'Shanter was a sailing ship built in 1829 in North Hylton. In 1830 she sailed to India under a license from the British East India Company (EIC). Next, she was a West Indiaman, sailing to Bermuda and Jamaica. She then played a role in the founding of Adelaide in 1836. Tam O'Shanter ran aground in 1837 off Tasmania and was considered a write-off.