Historical Schooner Ships

schooner ernestina

Ernestina (Photo courtesy of http://sailernestina.org)

Schooner ships Chasseur, Thomas W. Lawson, and (Effie M. Morrissey) Ernestina played important roles in history. They either participated in war, exploration, and trade that etched a significant happening in the lives of some community people and, thus, a country. Schooner ships are tall ships that use fore-and-aft sails with two or more masts. Records show that schooner ships came to be in the 16th or the 17th century in the Netherlands; and the ships were developed further in North America in the 18th century. That’s why most historic schooner ships activity are concentrated in North America

Chasseur

Chasseur made a mark in history with her captain, Thomas Boyle, for their triumph over the British Isles: 17 ships in total either captured or sank by the captain in 1814. Captain Thomas Boyle was an American privateer who sailed straight to the British Isles from Baltimore on his first voyage as captain of the Chasseur. In an audacious act, he captured merchant ships in the British Isles, released one to send a message to the King about his presence. This caused panic over London, which led to the pulling out of ships in the American war to guard merchant ships in the British Isles.

Thomas W. Lawson

Thomas W. Lawson, named after a Boston magnate, entered history as the largest schooner ship without auxiliary engine. Her distinct 7 masts (she’s the only 7-mast ship in the world) made her famous at the same time a target for ridicule among sailors. She’s bulky and difficult to maneuver; she’s likened into a bath tub at sea or beached whale. She’s the only pretty despised among the schooners ships ever built.

Ernestina, former Effie M. Morrissey

Since her launched in 1894 under the name Effie M. Morrissey, Ernestina was destined to travel the world by with Captain Robert Bartlett. She was first a fishing vessel in Gloucester and Digby until Bartlett sold her to an Arctic explorer cousin, Captain Bob Bartlett. Effie M. Morrissey then were fitted with an auxiliary engine and embarked on a two-decade Arctic exploration. She was commissioned by the American Museum of National History, American Geographical Society, and others during her time as a research vessel. She also became a mail and passenger ship to the South Pacific under her new owner. She also became one of many trans-Atlantic merchant schooner ships under another owner, Captain Henrique Mendes, who name her after her daughter, Ernestina. She was then retired in Cape Verde where she remained until 1982 when the Government of Cape Verde gave her to America after some negotiations. Today, Ernestina is a National Historic Landmark as declared by the Department of Interior.

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