IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION #
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The Burlington was originally a wooden sidewheel steamer built in 1837 in Oakville, Ontario. It was designed for passenger and package freight service, common for vessels operating on the Great Lakes during that period. Sidewheel steamers were characterized by their large paddle wheels mounted on either side of the hull, which provided propulsion. The vessel had a capacity of 150 tons.
HISTORY #
The Burlington began its service as a passenger and freight steamer in 1837. It served the growing transportation needs on Lake Ontario, but its career was tragically cut short when it was destroyed by fire on March 27, 1841, while docked in Toronto. The details regarding the loss of life or cargo during the fire are not well documented, leaving some aspects of the incident shrouded in mystery.
Despite the destruction, the hull of the Burlington was salvaged and repurposed. In 1847, a new vessel was built on the recovered hull in Toronto—a three-masted schooner named Scotland. This transformation is a testament to the practice of reusing valuable ship components during that era, as the hull was still considered sound enough for further service after significant modifications.
FINAL DISPOSITION #
The Burlington was destroyed by fire in 1841, marking the end of its life as a sidewheel steamer. However, the vessel’s hull was repurposed, and in 1847, it was rebuilt as the schooner Scotland. The later history and final disposition of the Scotland are not detailed in the available records.
CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY #
The remains of the Burlington, post-fire, were repurposed into the schooner Scotland, so no substantial portions of the original vessel likely remain. The fate of the Scotland after its construction is not well documented, and there are no known sites associated with the wreck.
RESOURCES & LINKS #
PUBLIC DOMAIN PICTURES #
Burlington, Scotland, sidewheel steamer, schooner, Lake Ontario shipwrecks, Oakville Ontario, Toronto fire, 1841 ship fire, maritime history.
