Prince Albert, a sidewheel steamer, was built in 1841 in Prescott, Ontario. It had a tonnage of approximately 150 and was initially constructed as a Rideau Canal passage boat. However, it later served as a towboat after around 1860. The vessel had two engines manufactured by Ward & Co. in Montreal and was launched in mid-May 1841. With 30 berths, it was considered a large and impressive vessel, perhaps too grand for its intended purpose of towing barges, as noted by the Montreal Gazette in 1841.
During its history, Prince Albert had multiple owners through various partnerships. Unfortunately, it was involved in a collision that caused it to ram and sink the “Propeller” on the Rideau Canal near Kingston in early July 1842. The steamer also suffered fire damage in Kingston on December 11, 1854, but it was subsequently refitted during the winter of 1857-1858 in Prescott.
Tragically, Prince Albert met its final fate on March 18, 1862, when it was destroyed by fire in Ottawa. The fire was discovered around 8 o’clock on Tuesday evening while the steamer was lying in the Canal Basin. The alarm was raised, and the Fire Companies swiftly assembled to extinguish the flames, but the fire had already gained significant momentum. Despite the firemen’s best efforts, they were only able to save a substantial portion of the hull. It is worth noting that the vessel was owned by Mr. Griffin, a Provincial Land Surveyor, who unfortunately did not have insurance coverage, as reported in the Ottawa Citizen.
The exact location of the steamer’s burning within Ottawa is not specified in the available information.
