British Empire

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: British Empire
• Type: Wooden Sidewheel Steamer
• Year Built: 1847
• Builder: John Oades
• Dimensions: 167.9 ft (51.2 m); Beam: 22.6 ft (6.9 m); Depth of hold: 7.5 ft (2.3 m)
• Registered Tonnage: 137.29 tons (old tonnage calculation)
• Location: St. Lawrence River
• Original Owners: River & Lake Steamboat Co.; Ontario & St. Lawrence Steamboat Co.

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The British Empire was a single-deck wooden sidewheel steamer constructed for regional service on the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River. Designed for both trade and passenger transport, it was owned initially by the River & Lake Steamboat Co. and later by the Ontario & St. Lawrence Steamboat Co. With a robust wooden hull and sidewheel propulsion system, the British Empire was an important part of 19th-century riverine and lacustrine commerce.

Description

The British Empire launched on April 4, 1847, and began service on the critical trade route between Ogdensburg, New York, and Montreal, Quebec. The steamer played a significant role in connecting these ports, facilitating the transport of goods and passengers along the waterways. However, its operational history was marred by several incidents:

• June 24, 1848: The vessel sank at Kingston, Lake Ontario, for reasons not documented in historical records.
• November 8, 1849: The British Empire ran aground above Black River in Lake Erie, causing significant damage.
• 1852: The vessel was re-enrolled in Montreal under the ownership of Lucius Moody, becoming part of the Ontario & St. Lawrence Steamboat Co.
• 1856: The ship sank in the St. Lawrence River, bringing its operational history to an end. The exact circumstances of this final sinking remain unclear, though the event marked the culmination of a decade of misfortunes.

History

The British Empire sank in 1856 in the St. Lawrence River, effectively ending its service. While its contributions to regional trade were significant, the repeated challenges faced by the vessel likely contributed to its loss.

Significant Incidents

• Discovery: The wreck has not been located or confirmed to date.
• Sinking Recorded: 1856.

Final Disposition

The British Empire sank in 1856 in the St. Lawrence River, effectively ending its service. While its contributions to regional trade were significant, the repeated challenges faced by the vessel likely contributed to its loss.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Condition: Unknown, as the wreck remains undiscovered. The wooden structure, if extant, is likely in a state of advanced deterioration.

Accessibility: Not applicable due to the lack of confirmed location or exploration.

Resources & Links

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The story of the British Empire reflects the challenges of early steamer operations on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River. Despite its robust construction and importance to regional trade, the vessel’s history was marked by a series of unfortunate events, from groundings to an unexplained sinking. The loss of the British Empire in 1856 highlights the vulnerabilities of wooden steamers of the era, which faced challenges from mechanical issues, harsh weather, and limited navigational aids. Its disappearance also underscores the difficulty of recovering and preserving shipwrecks from this time, particularly in the complex and expansive waterways of the St. Lawrence River.