British Empire, a wooden steamer, was built in Port Metcalfe, Ontario. Constructed by John Oades, the vessel had a single deck and was owned by the River & Lake Steamboat Co.
Equipped with a sidewheel propulsion system, the British Empire had impressive dimensions, measuring 167.9 feet in length, 22.6 feet in beam, and 7.5 feet in depth. According to the old style of tonnage calculation, it had a capacity of 137.29 tons.
The ship commenced its operations on April 4, 1847, sailing between Ogdensburg and Montreal. However, the British Empire faced several unfortunate incidents during its lifetime. On June 24, 1848, it sank in Kingston, Lake Ontario. Then, on November 8, 1849, the vessel went ashore above Black River in Lake Erie.
In 1852, the British Empire was enrolled in Montreal under the ownership of Lucius Moody, operating on the same route under the Ontario & St. Lawrence Steamboat Co. However, the ship’s misfortunes continued, and it eventually sank on the St. Lawrence River in 1856.
The exact circumstances leading to the sinking of the British Empire are not specified. These incidents serve as reminders of the risks faced by steamships navigating the waterways, highlighting the challenges of maritime travel during that period.
