SS Royal William: Difference between revisions

	A painting of the SS Royal William
History
Name	SS Royal William
Ordered	1830
Builder	George Black and John Saxton Campbell, Quebec
Laid down	September 2, 1830
Launched	April 27, 1831
In service	August 24, 1831
Spain
Name	Isabel II
Namesake	Isabella II
Acquired	September 1834
Out of service	6 January 1860
Renamed	1850: Santa Isabel
Refit	1840
Fate	Sunk by storm in Algeciras bay
General characteristics
Tonnage	1,370 ton
Length	160 ft (49 m)
Beam	44 ft (13 m)
Propulsion	steam engine; paddles

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SS Royal William was a Canadian side-wheel paddle steamship that is sometimes credited with the first crossing of the Atlantic Ocean almost entirely under steam power, in 1833, using sails only during periods of boiler maintenance. She was the largest passenger ship in the world from 1831 to 1839, where it was then passed by the SS Great Western. Earlier vessels that crossed partially under steam include the British-built Dutch-owned Curaçao in 1827 and the sail-steam hybrid SS Savannah in 1819.

The 1,370-ton SS Royal William (named after the ruling monarch, William IV) was 160 feet (49 m) long, of 44 feet (13 m) breadth and had a draught of 17¾ft, a large steamship for the time.^[2] She was designed by 21-year old James Goudie, who had served his apprenticeship, likely at Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company of Greenock, Scotland,^[2] a seaport on the Firth of Clyde.

History

Genesis

She was commissioned by brewer John Molson^{[citation needed]}, George Black, John Saxton Campbell,^[3] and a group of investors from various colonies in British North America, including a group in Halifax, Nova Scotia, who subscribed 196 shares at £25. There were all told 235 investors, who put a total of £16,000 in the Quebec and Halifax Steam Navigation Company. The incorporation occurred on 31 March 1830.^[2]

Construction

The ship was built in Cape Blanc, Quebec by John Saxton Campbell and George Black,^[4] who laid its keel on 2 September 1830.^[2] She was launched on 27 April 1831 by Lady and Lord Aylmer at Cape Cove, Quebec.^[4]^[5] Her steam engines were manufactured and installed in Montreal, at the premises of the Bennet and Henderson Foundry, near the foot of St. Mary's current. On 13 August 1831, she made her shakedown voyage under steam from there to Quebec (calling at Sorel and Three Rivers en route). She was officially registered on 22 August.^[2]

Career as mail packeteer

She made several trips between Quebec and the Atlantic colonies in 1831, but travel became restricted because of the cholera epidemic in 1832.^[5] Some shareowners protested that she had been poorly maintained over the winter, and that as a result costly repairs were required that should have been unnecessary. One legislator suggested that the annual subsidy not be paid because Royal William had not fulfilled her schedule. The losses bankrupted the venture because the loans went unpaid.^[2] The owners lost some £16,000 on the venture.^[4] On 3 April 1833, she was purchased at auction by a half-dozen mortgage holders and original shareholders for £5,000.^[2]

Sale in England

Her new owners decided to sail her to Europe and find a buyer. She departed from Pictou, Nova Scotia on 18 August 1833 with seven passengers, a small amount of freight and a large load of coal and arrived at Gravesend on the River Thames after a 25-day passage that included a stop at the Cowes, Isle of Wight for a fresh coat of paint.^[2]

Aside from a one-day pause to clean her boilers, the ship had crossed non-stop using its steam engines. Royal William, which initially sold for £10,000, was eventually sold to the Spanish Navy which renamed her Isabel Segunda (after Queen Isabella II.^[2] She served for many years and earned the distinction of being the first steam warship to fire in anger, at Zarauz on 14 April 1839 during the First Carlist War.^[6]

On 8 January 1860, Isabel Segunda was driven ashore and wrecked at Algeciras.^[7]

Legacy

One of Royal William's co-owners was Halifax merchant Samuel Cunard, who drew important lessons from the ship which he applied when he founded the Cunard Steamship Company a few years later.^[2]

In the town of Pictou, there is a Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps named after this vessel. A large wooden model of Royal William is on display at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax.^[5]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Boileau, John (2006). Samuel Cunard: Nova Scotia's Master of the North Atlantic. Formac Publishing Company Limited. p. 44. ISBN 978-0-88780-712-1.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j Langley, John G. (2006). Steam Lion: A Biography of Samuel Cunard. Brick Tower Press. ISBN 978-1-883283-50-6.
^ Denison 1955, p. 157
^ ^a ^b ^c Blakeley, Phyllis R. (1976). "Cunard, Sir Samuel". In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. IX (1861–1870) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Model of SS Royal William at the Maritime Museum" (Press release). Nova Scotia Museum. August 18, 2005.
^ "Noticias de España; San Sebastián". El comercio. Madrid. 24 April 1839. p. 1.
^ "Spain". The Royal Cornwall Gazette, Falmouth Packet and General Advertiser. No. 2953. Truro. 27 January 1860. p. 2.

Bibliography

Marcil, Eileen Reid (2020). The PS Royal William of Quebec. Montreal: Baraka Books.

Denison, Merrill (1955). The Barley and the Stream: The Molson Story. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart Limited.

[Boileau44-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Boileau, John (2006). Samuel Cunard: Nova Scotia's Master of the North Atlantic. Formac Publishing Company Limited. p. 44. ISBN 978-0-88780-712-1.

[jl-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j Langley, John G. (2006). Steam Lion: A Biography of Samuel Cunard. Brick Tower Press. ISBN 978-1-883283-50-6.

[3] Denison 1955, p. 157

[Library&Archives-4] Blakeley, Phyllis R. (1976). "Cunard, Sir Samuel". In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. IX (1861–1870) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.

[MaritimeMuseum-5] "Model of SS Royal William at the Maritime Museum" (Press release). Nova Scotia Museum. August 18, 2005.

[6] "Noticias de España; San Sebastián". El comercio. Madrid. 24 April 1839. p. 1.

[RCG270160-7] "Spain". The Royal Cornwall Gazette, Falmouth Packet and General Advertiser. No. 2953. Truro. 27 January 1860. p. 2.

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+{{Short description|Canadian side-wheel paddle steamship}}
 {|{{Infobox ship begin}}
 {{Infobox ship image
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 |Ship caption=A painting of the SS ''Royal William''
 }}
 {{Infobox ship career
 |Hide header=
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 |Ship name=SS ''Royal William''
 |Ship ordered=1830<ref name=Boileau44>{{cite book|last=Boileau|first=John|title=Samuel Cunard: Nova Scotia's Master of the North Atlantic|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VpNurHAWL9sC&pg=PA44|date= 2006|publisher=Formac Publishing Company Limited|isbn=978-0-88780-712-1|page=44}}</ref>
-|Ship builder=[[George Black (shipbuilder)|George Black]] and [[John Saxton Campbell]]<ref name=Boileau44/>
+|Ship builder=[[George Black (shipbuilder)|George Black]] and [[John Saxton Campbell]], [[Quebec City|Quebec]]<ref name=Boileau44/>
 |Ship yard number=
 |Ship laid down=September 2, 1830<ref name=Boileau44/>
@@ Line 18: / Line 19: @@
 |Ship out of service=
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-|Ship status=
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 }}
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 |Ship out of service=6 January 1860
 |Ship fate=Sunk by storm in [[Algeciras]] bay
-|Ship status=
 |Ship notes=
 }}
@@ Line 53: / Line 52: @@
 }}
 |}
-'''SS ''Royal William''''' was a Canadian [[Paddle steamer#Types of paddle steamer|side-wheel paddle steamship]] that is sometimes credited with the first crossing of the [[Atlantic Ocean]] to be made almost entirely under steam power, in 1833, using sails only during periods of boiler maintenance, though the British-built Dutch-owned ''[[Steamship#History|Curaçao]]'' crossed in 1827, and the sail-steam hybrid {{SS|Savannah}} used some steam power when crossing in 1819. She was the largest passenger ship in the world from 1831 to 1839.
+'''SS ''Royal William''''' was a Canadian [[Paddle steamer#Types of paddle steamer|side-wheel paddle steamship]] that is sometimes credited with the first crossing of the [[Atlantic Ocean]] almost entirely under steam power, in 1833, using sails only during periods of boiler maintenance. She was the largest passenger ship in the world from 1831 to 1839, where it was then passed by the {{SS|Great Western}}. Earlier vessels that crossed partially under steam include the British-built Dutch-owned ''[[Steamship#History|Curaçao]]'' in 1827 and the sail-steam hybrid {{SS|Savannah}} in 1819.
-The 1,370-ton SS ''Royal William'' (named after the ruling monarch, [[William IV of the United Kingdom|William IV]]) was {{convert|160|ft}} long, of {{convert|44|ft}} breadth and had a draught of 17¾ft, a large steamship for the time.<ref name=jl>{{cite book|last=Langley|first=John G.|title=Steam Lion: A Biography of Samuel Cunard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lecQkgEACAAJ&pg=PP1|year=2006|publisher=Brick Tower Press|isbn=978-1-883283-50-6}}</ref> She was drawn by 21-year old [[James Goudie (draughtsman)|James Goudie]] who had by then served his [[apprenticeship]], likely at [[Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company]] of [[Greenock, Scotland]],<ref name=jl/> a seaport on the [[Firth of Clyde]] and also the birthplace of [[James Watt]].
+The 1,370-ton SS ''Royal William'' (named after the ruling monarch, [[William IV of the United Kingdom|William IV]]) was {{convert|160|ft}} long, of {{convert|44|ft}} breadth and had a draught of 17¾ft, a large steamship for the time.<ref name=jl>{{cite book |last=Langley|first=John G. |title=Steam Lion: A Biography of Samuel Cunard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lecQkgEACAAJ&pg=PP1 |year=2006 |publisher=Brick Tower Press |isbn=978-1-883283-50-6}}</ref> She was designed by 21-year old James Goudie, who had served his [[apprenticeship]], likely at [[Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company]] of [[Greenock, Scotland]],<ref name=jl/> a seaport on the [[Firth of Clyde]].
 == History ==
 ===Genesis===
 [[File:Le lancement du Royal William en 1831 - James Pattison Cockburn.jpg|thumb|left|''Royal William'', Quebec City, 1831]]
-She was commissioned by brewer [[John Molson]]{{citation needed|date=October 2016}}, [[George Black (shipbuilder)|George Black]] and [[John Saxton Campbell]]<ref>{{harvnb|Denison|1955|p=157}}</ref> and a group of investors from various colonies in British North America, including whom subscribed 196 shares at £25 in [[Halifax, Nova Scotia]].<ref name=jl/>  There were all told 235 investors of a total £16,000 in the '''Quebec and Halifax Steam Navigation Company'''.<ref name=jl/> The incorporation occurred on 31 March 1830.<ref name=jl/>
+She was commissioned by brewer [[John Molson]]{{citation needed|date=October 2016}}, [[George Black (shipbuilder)|George Black]], [[John Saxton Campbell]],<ref>{{harvnb|Denison|1955|p=157}}</ref> and a group of investors from various colonies in British North America, including a group in [[Halifax, Nova Scotia]], who subscribed 196 shares at £25. There were all told 235 investors, who put a total of £16,000 in the '''Quebec and Halifax Steam Navigation Company'''. The incorporation occurred on 31 March 1830.<ref name=jl/>
 ===Construction===
 The ship was built in [[Cape Blanc (Quebec)|Cape Blanc]], [[Quebec]] by [[John Saxton Campbell]] and [[George Black (shipbuilder)|George Black]],<ref name=Library&Archives>{{cite DCB |last1=Blakeley |first1=Phyllis R. |authorlink=Phyllis Blakeley |title=Cunard, Sir Samuel |url=http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/cunard_samuel_9E.html |volume=9}}</ref> who laid its keel on 2 September 1830.<ref name=jl/> She was launched on 27 April 1831 by Lady and [[Matthew Whitworth-Aylmer, 5th Baron Aylmer|Lord Aylmer]] at Cape Cove, Quebec.<ref name=Library&Archives/><ref name=MaritimeMuseum>{{cite press release |publisher= Nova Scotia Museum |title=Model of SS Royal William at the Maritime Museum
- |date=August 18, 2005 |url=https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20050818003}}</ref> Her [[Marine steam engine|steam engines]] were manufactured and installed in [[Montreal]], at the premises of the [[Bennet and Henderson Foundry]], near the foot of [[St. Mary's current]].<ref name=jl/> Her shakedown voyage under steam from there to Quebec (calling at [[Sorel-Tracy|Sorel]] and [[Trois-Rivières|Three Rivers]] en route) occurred on 13 August 1831, after which she was officially registered on 22 August.<ref name=jl/>
+|date=August 18, 2005 |url=https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20050818003}}</ref> Her [[Marine steam engine|steam engines]] were manufactured and installed in [[Montreal]], at the premises of the Bennet and Henderson Foundry, near the foot of St. Mary's current. On 13 August 1831, she made her shakedown voyage under steam from there to Quebec (calling at [[Sorel-Tracy|Sorel]] and [[Trois-Rivières|Three Rivers]] en route). She was officially registered on 22 August.<ref name=jl/>
 ===Career as mail packeteer===
-She made several trips between Quebec and the Atlantic colonies in 1831, but travel became restricted because of the [[cholera]] [[epidemic]] in 1832.<ref name=MaritimeMuseum/> Some shareowners protested that she had been poorly maintained over the winter, and as a result costly repairs that should have been unnecessary were required.<ref name=jl/> One legislator suggested that the annual subsidy not be paid because the ''Royal William'' had not fulfilled her schedule.<ref name=jl/> The losses bankrupted the venture because the loans went unpaid.<ref name=jl/> The owners lost some £16,000 on the venture.<ref name=Library&Archives/> On 3 April 1833 she was purchased at auction by a half-dozen mortgage holders and original shareholders for £5,000.<ref name=jl/>
+She made several trips between Quebec and the Atlantic colonies in 1831, but travel became restricted because of the [[cholera]] [[epidemic]] in 1832.<ref name=MaritimeMuseum/> Some shareowners protested that she had been poorly maintained over the winter, and that as a result costly repairs were required that should have been unnecessary. One legislator suggested that the annual subsidy not be paid because ''Royal William'' had not fulfilled her schedule. The losses bankrupted the venture because the loans went unpaid.<ref name=jl/> The owners lost some £16,000 on the venture.<ref name=Library&Archives/> On 3 April 1833, she was purchased at auction by a half-dozen mortgage holders and original shareholders for £5,000.<ref name=jl/>
 ===Sale in England===
-Her owners decided to sail her to Europe and find a buyer. She departed from [[Pictou, Nova Scotia]] on 18 August 1833 with seven passengers, a small amount of freight and a large load of coal and arrived at [[Gravesend, Kent|Gravesend]] on the [[River Thames]] after a 25-day passage that included a stop at the [[Cowes]], [[Isle of Wight]] for a fresh coat of paint.<ref name=jl/>
+Her new owners decided to sail her to Europe and find a buyer. She departed from [[Pictou, Nova Scotia]] on 18 August 1833 with seven passengers, a small amount of freight and a large load of coal and arrived at [[Gravesend, Kent|Gravesend]] on the [[River Thames]] after a 25-day passage that included a stop at the [[Cowes]], [[Isle of Wight]] for a fresh coat of paint.<ref name=jl/>
-Aside from a one-day pause to clean her boilers, the ship had crossed non stop using its steam engines. ''Royal William'', which initially sold for £10,000, was eventually flipped to the [[Spanish Navy]] where, renamed to ''Isabel Segunda'',<ref name=jl/> she served for many years and earned the distinction of being the first steamship to [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Special:Search/fire_in_anger fire in anger] in a minor Spanish rebellion.{{which|date=July 2017}}
+Aside from a one-day pause to clean her boilers, the ship had crossed non-stop using its steam engines. ''Royal William'', which initially sold for £10,000, was eventually sold to the [[Spanish Navy]] which renamed her ''Isabel Segunda'' (after [[Isabella II of Spain|Queen Isabella II]].<ref name=jl/> She served for many years and earned the distinction of being the first steam warship to [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Special:Search/fire_in_anger fire in anger], at [[Zarauz]] on 14 April 1839 during the [[First Carlist War]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hemerotecadigital.bne.es/issue.vm?id=0003107561&page=1&search=%22Vapor+Isabel+II%22&lang=es |work=El comercio |location=Madrid |number=n.º 1819|date=24 April 1839 |title=Noticias de España; San Sebastián |page=1}}</ref>
-On 8 January 1860. ''Isabella Segunda'' was driven ashore and wrecked at [[Algeciras]].<ref name=RCG270160>{{Cite news |title=Spain |newspaper=The Royal Cornwall Gazette, Falmouth Packet and General Advertiser |location=Truro |date=27 January 1860 |issue=2953 |page=2 }}</ref>
+On 8 January 1860, ''Isabel Segunda'' was driven ashore and wrecked at [[Algeciras]].<ref name=RCG270160>{{Cite news |title=Spain |newspaper=The Royal Cornwall Gazette, Falmouth Packet and General Advertiser |location=Truro |date=27 January 1860 |issue=2953 |page=2 }}</ref>
 ==Legacy==
-One of ''Royal William''{{'}}s co-owners was [[Samuel Cunard]] a merchant from [[City of Halifax|Halifax, Nova Scotia]] who drew important lessons from the ship which he applied when he founded the [[Cunard Steamship Company]] a few years later.<ref name=jl/>
+One of ''Royal William''{{'}}s co-owners was Halifax merchant [[Samuel Cunard]], who drew important lessons from the ship which he applied when he founded the [[Cunard Steamship Company]] a few years later.<ref name=jl/>
-In the town of Pictou there is a [[Royal Canadian Sea Cadets|Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps]] named after this vessel.  A large wooden model of ''Royal William'' is on display at the [[Maritime Museum of the Atlantic]] in Halifax.
+In the town of Pictou, there is a [[Royal Canadian Sea Cadets|Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps]] named after this vessel.  A large wooden model of ''Royal William'' is on display at the [[Maritime Museum of the Atlantic]] in Halifax.<ref name=MaritimeMuseum/>
 ==References==
 {{reflist}}
 ===Bibliography===
+*{{cite book |last1=Marcil |first1=Eileen Reid |title=The PS Royal William of Quebec |date=2020 |publisher=Baraka Books |place=Montreal}}
 *{{cite book |last1=Denison |first1=Merrill |title=The Barley and the Stream: The Molson Story |date=1955 |publisher=McClelland & Stewart Limited|place=Toronto}}
@@ Line 91: / Line 93: @@
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Royal William}}
 [[Category:Steamships]]
-[[Category:Ships built in Quebec]]
+[[Category:Ships built in Quebec City]]
 [[Category:1831 ships]]
 [[Category:Merchant ships of Canada]]

v t e Timeline of largest passenger ships
Briefly held the title before the preceding ship reclaimed it† Shared record‡
SS Royal William (1831) SS Great Western (1837) SS British Queen (1839) SS President (1840)† SS Great Britain (1843) RMS Atrato (1853) SS Adriatic (1857) SS Great Eastern (1858) SS City of New York (1888) RMS Campania (1893)‡ SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse (1897) RMS Oceanic (1899) RMS Celtic (1901) RMS Cedric (1903) RMS Baltic (1904) RMS Empress of Scotland (1906) RMS Lusitania (1907) RMS Mauretania (1907) RMS Olympic (1911) RMS Titanic (1912)† SS Imperator (1913) SS Vaterland (1913) RMS Majestic (1922) SS Normandie (1935) RMS Queen Mary (1936)† RMS Queen Elizabeth (1942) SS France (1972) MS Sovereign of the Seas (1987)† Sun Princess (1995) MS Carnival Destiny (1996) MS Grand Princess (1998) MS Voyager of the Seas (1999) MS Explorer of the Seas (2000) MS Navigator of the Seas (2002) RMS Queen Mary 2 (2003) MS Freedom of the Seas (2006) Liberty of the Seas (2007) Oasis of the Seas (2009)‡ Harmony of the Seas (2016) Symphony of the Seas (2018) Wonder of the Seas (2022) Icon of the Seas (2023)
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v t e Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 1860
Shipwrecks	6 Jan: Northerner 8 Jan: Isabel Segunda 8 Feb: Hungarian 7 Mar: Virginia 27 Mar: Nimrod 22 May: Malabar 21 Jun: USCS Robert J. Walker 13 Jul: Agnes 16 Jul: John Bowes 2 Sep: SMS Frauenlob 8 Sep: Lady Elgin 6 Oct: Connaught 5 Nov: Kyle Spangler 17 Dec: BAP Callao
Other incidents	2 Jun: Teutonia 11 Jun: HMS Sidon 13 Jun: HMS Satellite 10 Aug: Emanuela 6 Dec: Berenguela Unknown date: Stag Hound
1859 1861