Identification & Site Information

• Name: TECUMSEH
• Other Names: May have been built as FAIRPORT
• Type at Loss: Sidewheel Steamer, Wood
• Builder: John McDermot Place Built: Algonac, Michigan
• Year Built: 1845
• Specifications: Length: 139 ft (42.4 m)  Beam: 23 ft (7 m)  Depth: 10 ft (3 m)
• Tonnage: 285 tons
• Date of Loss: November 14 or 16, 1850
• Place of Loss: Near Buffalo, New York
• Lake: Erie
• Type of Loss: Storm (Stranded and wrecked)
• Loss of Life: None
• Carrying: Unknown

Vessel Type

The TECUMSEH was a Sidewheel Steamer, a common vessel type during the mid-19th century on the Great Lakes. These steamers were powered by paddle wheels mounted on the sides of the Hull and were primarily used for passenger and freight transport. Sidewheelers like the TECUMSEH played a pivotal role in the development of commerce and travel in the region, facilitating the movement of goods and people between growing port cities.

Description & History

Built in 1845 by John McDermot in Algonac, Michigan, the TECUMSEH was part of the early fleet of wooden sidewheel steamers that navigated the Great Lakes’ busy trade routes. There is some speculation that she may have originally been built as the FAIRPORT and later renamed TECUMSEH, though definitive records confirming this are scarce.

Measuring 139 feet in length and displacing 285 tons, the TECUMSEH was designed for mixed-use service, likely carrying both passengers and cargo. Her wooden Hull and sidewheel propulsion system were typical of steamers of this era, which relied on coal or wood-fired boilers to generate steam power.

On November 14 or 16, 1850, the TECUMSEH met her end during a violent storm on Lake Erie, near Buffalo, New York. The Steamer was driven ashore (stranded) and subsequently wrecked. Despite the severity of the incident, no lives were lost, which was relatively uncommon for shipwrecks during this time, as many storms resulted in significant fatalities due to inadequate life-saving equipment.

The final enrollment document for the TECUMSEH notes:

“S.B. Tecumseh wrecked at Buffalo, November 16, 1850.”

Little else is known about the specific circumstances of the wreck, including her cargo or exact operational history prior to the loss. Records from the mid-19th century are often sparse, especially for vessels that were not part of larger fleet operations.

Final Disposition

After stranding near Buffalo, the TECUMSEH was declared a Total Loss. Given the era and her wooden construction, it’s likely that any salvage attempts focused on recovering reusable machinery, boilers, and fittings rather than the Hull itself, which would have deteriorated quickly in the harsh environment.

Resources & Links

• Lloyd’s Register of American Vessels (LHL)
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Historic Great Lakes Vessels (Bowling Green State University)
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Early American Steamers (EAS)
• Buffalo Courier Archives (BC)

Conclusion

The loss of the TECUMSEH represents a typical story of the many mid-19th century steamers that succumbed to the perils of Lake Erie’s unpredictable weather. As commerce boomed across the Great Lakes, steam-powered vessels like the TECUMSEH were the lifeblood of industry, connecting remote communities to major ports. While her story may be largely forgotten in the annals of maritime history, her fate reflects the challenges faced by the early maritime pioneers navigating the often treacherous inland seas of North America.