IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION #
VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION #
The Hamilton, originally named Diana, was a wooden-hulled schooner built for merchant service. It was designed as a single-deck vessel with two masts, common features for schooners of that era, optimized for the transport of goods and passengers across the Great Lakes. After its acquisition by the U.S. Navy in 1812, it was refitted as a warship, armed with ten guns to serve in naval engagements during the War of 1812.
HISTORY #
The Diana was launched in 1809 in Oswego, New York, constructed by Henry Eagle and owned by Matthew McNair. As a civilian schooner, it likely participated in regional trade, navigating the waters of Lake Ontario. However, the outbreak of the War of 1812 brought a significant change in the vessel’s fate.
In 1812, the United States Navy purchased the Diana and renamed her Hamilton, after Paul Hamilton, the Secretary of the Navy. The schooner was refitted as a warship, equipped with ten cannons, and integrated into the naval forces active on the Great Lakes. The Hamilton played a role in the conflict, which saw numerous naval skirmishes and strategic maneuvers between American and British forces.
FINAL DISPOSITION #
On August 18, 1813, the Hamilton, alongside the schooner Scourge, was awaiting an attack on York (modern-day Toronto) in Ontario. The vessels were caught in a sudden and severe line squall, a type of fast-moving and intense storm common on the Great Lakes. The storm overwhelmed both schooners, causing them to capsize and resulting in the loss of up to 100 lives, including both military personnel and civilians.
CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY #
The wreck of the Hamilton was rediscovered in 1975 by a team from the Royal Ontario Museum. The site lies approximately 6 miles off Port Dalhousie in Lake Ontario. The wreck is located at significant depth and has been preserved due to the cold, freshwater environment of the lake, which slows the deterioration of wooden structures.
The site is protected as a war grave, and diving is heavily regulated. The Canadian government has conducted surveys and side-scan sonar studies to document the wreck without disturbing the site. The wreck remains a poignant reminder of the dangers of naval warfare during the War of 1812.
RESOURCES & LINKS #
- Civil Disobedience by Scott Stitt: Article in Diver Mag detailing the history and discovery of the Hamilton and Scourge wrecks.
- Side Scan Survey by Canadian Government: Documentation and surveys conducted to study the wreck without physical disturbance.
- Diver Magazine: General information and articles on significant wrecks in Lake Ontario and beyond.
