HMS Huron (USS Somers, Catherine)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: HMS Huron
• Type: Schooner / Brig
• Year Built: 1808
• Builder: Black Rock, New York
• Dimensions: Length: 53 ft 6 in (16.3 m); Beam: 17 ft 3.25 in (5.3 m); Depth: 8 ft (2.4 m)
• Registered Tonnage: 65 tons (old measurement)
• Depth at Wreck Site: 2.4 m / 8 ft
• Location: Streets Creek off Chippewa Creek, Ontario
• Official Number: Not located in available records
• Original Owners: U.S. Navy, Royal Navy
• Number of Masts: Two

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Schooner / Brig

Description

Originally constructed as the merchant schooner Catherine in 1808 in Black Rock, New York, this wooden vessel was part of the merchant fleet before being acquired by the U.S. Navy during the War of 1812. She was armed and renamed USS Somers, joining Commodore Perry’s fleet on Lake Erie. After being captured by the British in 1814, she was recommissioned as HMS Huron and became part of the Royal Navy’s strategic force on the Great Lakes.

History

The Catherine was sold to the U.S. Navy in 1812 and renamed USS Somers. She was outfitted with two guns and played a role in the American fleet during the War of 1812. On August 12, 1814, British forces captured both the Somers and Ohio during a raid near Fort Erie. Once in British hands, Somers was renamed HMS Huron, while Ohio became HMS Sauk. These vessels were used mainly for transport and patrol duties on Lakes Erie and Huron. In 1814, to prevent recapture by American forces, HMS Huron was intentionally sunk in Streets Creek off Chippewa Creek. She was later raised in the spring and returned to service.

Significant Incidents

• Captured by British forces on August 12, 1814.
• Intentionally sunk in Streets Creek to prevent recapture.

Final Disposition

After her service, HMS Huron was eventually decommissioned and placed in “ordinary” following the signing of the Rush-Bagot Agreement in 1817, which limited naval armament on the Great Lakes. Her ultimate fate remains undocumented in the available sources.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Nil return. No records found indicating the wreck has been located or surveyed.

Resources & Links

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HMS Huron exemplifies the transition from commerce to military utility, common for many schooners on the Great Lakes during the War of 1812. Her capture and use by both American and British navies underscore her strategic importance. Further research into naval archives may shed light on her specifications and final disposition.