BRITISH EMPIRE

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IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION #


	Vessel Name: British Empire Type of Wreck: Wooden Steamer Registry: Canada Builder: John Oades Final Location: St. Lawrence River Date of Sinking: 1856

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION #

The British Empire was a wooden steamer equipped with a sidewheel propulsion system. It was a single-deck vessel owned by the River & Lake Steamboat Co., later operating under the Ontario & St. Lawrence Steamboat Co. The ship, characterized by its robust construction, was intended for service on the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River, connecting key ports such as Ogdensburg and Montreal.

DIMENSIONS AND TONNAGE #

Length: 167.9 feet
Beam: 22.6 feet
Depth: 7.5 feet
Gross Tonnage: 137.29 tons (old tonnage calculation)

HISTORY #

The British Empire began its operations on April 4, 1847, initially plying the route between Ogdensburg, New York, and Montreal, Quebec. It was an important vessel for the River & Lake Steamboat Co., facilitating trade and transport between these significant locations. However, the vessel faced several misfortunes throughout its operational life.

June 24, 1848: The British Empire sank in Kingston, Lake Ontario, due to unspecified reasons.
November 8, 1849: The vessel ran ashore above Black River in Lake Erie, an incident that likely caused substantial damage.
1852: The ship was re-enrolled in Montreal under the ownership of Lucius Moody and continued operations under the Ontario & St. Lawrence Steamboat Co.
1856: The vessel met its final demise, sinking in the St. Lawrence River. The exact circumstances of this sinking remain unclear.

FINAL DISPOSITION #

The British Empire was ultimately lost in 1856 when it sank in the St. Lawrence River. This marked the end of the vessel’s service, concluding nearly a decade of operations fraught with accidents and challenges.

NOTMARs & ADVISORIES #

There are no current Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) related to the wreck site.

LOCATED BY & DATE #

The British Empire‘s sinking was recorded in 1856, but no specific location of the wreck has been confirmed, and it remains undetected to this day.

CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY #

Given that the wreck’s exact location remains unconfirmed and it has not been discovered, there are no current details about its condition or accessibility.

RESOURCES & LINKS #

KEYWORDS #

British Empire, Wooden Steamer, Great Lakes, Lake Ontario, St. Lawrence River, Sidewheel Steamer, River & Lake Steamboat Co.

ANALYSIS #

The British Empire‘s history underscores the perils of 19th-century maritime navigation, particularly in the often treacherous waters of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River. The repeated incidents that the vessel endured illustrate the challenges faced by steamships of the era, from mechanical failures to the dangers of weather and difficult navigation channels. Despite its robust construction and important role in regional trade, the British Empire could not escape the fate that befell many vessels of its time, succumbing ultimately to the unforgiving waters of the St. Lawrence River.