Notable Clipper Ships of the 19th Century
Clipper ships were fast and sleek and ruled the waves for a few years in the 1850s. Some particular ships became legendary for setting speed records or for being particularly beautiful in their design. Here are some notable clippers:
Designed by Donald McKay, the Flying Cloud became famous for setting a spectacular speed record, sailing from New York City to San Francisco in 89 days and 21 hours in the summer of 1851. To make the same run in less than 100 days was considered remarkable, and only 18 sailing ships ever accomplished that.
The New York to San Francisco record was only beaten twice, once again by the Flying Cloud in 1854, and in 1860 by the clipper ship Andrew Jackson.
The Great Republic was designed and built by Donald McKay in 1853. It was intended to be the largest and fastest clipper. The launch of the ship in October 1853 was accompanied with great fanfare when the city of Boston declared a holiday and thousands watched the festivities.
Two months later, on December 26, 1853, the ship was docked on the East River in lower Manhattan, being prepared for its first voyage. A fire broke out in the neighborhood and winter winds tossed burning embers in the air. The rigging of the Great Republic caught fire and flames spread down to the ship.
After being scuttled, the ship was raised and rebuilt. But some of the grandeur was lost.
Red Jacket was a clipper built in Maine which set a speed record between New York City and Liverpool, England, of 13 days and one hour. The ship spent its glory years sailing between England and Australia, and eventually was used, as were many other clippers, transporting lumber from Canada.
The Cutty Sark was a later clipper, built in Scotland in 1869. It is unusual as it still exists today as a museum ship, and is visited by tourists.
The tea trade between England and China was very competitive, and Cutty Sark was built when clippers had been essentially perfected for speed. It served in the tea trade for about seven years, and later in the trade in wool between Australia and England.
The ship was used as a training vessel well into the 20th century, and in the 1950s was placed in a dry dock to serve as a museum.
1. Flying Cloud
Designed by Donald McKay, the Flying Cloud became famous for setting a spectacular speed record, sailing from New York City to San Francisco in 89 days and 21 hours in the summer of 1851. To make the same run in less than 100 days was considered remarkable, and only 18 sailing ships ever accomplished that.
The New York to San Francisco record was only beaten twice, once again by the Flying Cloud in 1854, and in 1860 by the clipper ship Andrew Jackson.
2. Great Republic
The Great Republic was designed and built by Donald McKay in 1853. It was intended to be the largest and fastest clipper. The launch of the ship in October 1853 was accompanied with great fanfare when the city of Boston declared a holiday and thousands watched the festivities.
Two months later, on December 26, 1853, the ship was docked on the East River in lower Manhattan, being prepared for its first voyage. A fire broke out in the neighborhood and winter winds tossed burning embers in the air. The rigging of the Great Republic caught fire and flames spread down to the ship.
After being scuttled, the ship was raised and rebuilt. But some of the grandeur was lost.
3. Red Jacket
Red Jacket was a clipper built in Maine which set a speed record between New York City and Liverpool, England, of 13 days and one hour. The ship spent its glory years sailing between England and Australia, and eventually was used, as were many other clippers, transporting lumber from Canada.
4. Cutty Sark
The Cutty Sark was a later clipper, built in Scotland in 1869. It is unusual as it still exists today as a museum ship, and is visited by tourists.
The tea trade between England and China was very competitive, and Cutty Sark was built when clippers had been essentially perfected for speed. It served in the tea trade for about seven years, and later in the trade in wool between Australia and England.
The ship was used as a training vessel well into the 20th century, and in the 1950s was placed in a dry dock to serve as a museum.
