Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Queen Charlotte (1819)

Explore the wreck of the Queen Charlotte, an early steam-powered sidewheel steamer that played a vital role in Lake Ontario’s maritime history before its loss in 1837.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Queen Charlotte
  • Type: Sidewheel Steamer
  • Year Built: 1819
  • Builder: Teabout & Chapman
  • Dimensions: Length: 150 ft (45.7 m); Beam: Unknown; Depth: Unknown
  • Registered Tonnage: None (Canadian registry)
  • Location: Near Cataraqui Bay, west of Kingston, Ontario
  • Official Number: None
  • Original Owners: Unknown
  • Number of Masts: Unknown

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Queen Charlotte was a wooden sidewheel steamer designed for passenger transport and package freight on Lake Ontario. As one of the earliest steam-powered vessels on the lake, she represented a significant technological advancement in maritime transportation, transitioning from traditional sailing ships to steam propulsion. The sidewheel design allowed for greater maneuverability in the confined waters of Lake Ontario, while her wood-burning engine marked the early era of steam navigation in Upper Canada.

Description

Built in 1819 by Teabout & Chapman at Finkle’s Point (now part of Bath, Ontario), the Queen Charlotte was a 150-foot-long sidewheel steamer constructed of wood. She served as both a passenger vessel and a freight carrier, connecting communities along Lake Ontario in a period when overland transportation was still slow and unreliable.

The vessel was powered by a wood-burning steam engine, typical of early Great Lakes steamers. These vessels were essential for the transportation of people and goods between burgeoning settlements, facilitating the economic growth of the Lake Ontario shoreline.

History

Early Steam Navigation (1819–1837): The Queen Charlotte was part of the pioneering fleet of steamers on Lake Ontario, operating in an era when steam power was just beginning to transform maritime transportation. Serving as both a passenger steamer and a freight vessel, she contributed to the development of trade and communication between key ports like Kingston, Toronto (then York), and Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Regional Significance: Steamers like the Queen Charlotte were vital in Upper Canada, helping to connect rural communities with major commercial centers. The vessel played a role in moving settlers, mail, and supplies across the lake, bolstering the colonial economy.

Significant Incidents

Final Disposition and Loss (1837):

  • Cause of Loss: Stranding in a Storm
  • Date of Loss: 1837
  • Location: Near Cataraqui Bay, west of Kingston, Ontario, Lake Ontario

In 1837, the Queen Charlotte encountered a storm while operating near Cataraqui Bay, just west of Kingston. The vessel became stranded and eventually broke up, marking the end of her service life. The specific circumstances of the storm are not well-documented, and the loss of life remains unknown.

Her wooden hull and sidewheel structure would have made her particularly vulnerable to high winds and rough waters, common challenges faced by early steamers on the Great Lakes.

Loss of Life: Unknown: Records do not specify whether there were casualties associated with the vessel’s stranding and subsequent breakup.

Final Disposition

The Queen Charlotte was stranded and broke up near Cataraqui Bay, where she was likely abandoned due to the severity of the damage. No attempts at salvage or rebuilding are recorded, suggesting the vessel was considered a total loss.

Historical Significance:

  • Pioneer of Steam Navigation on Lake Ontario: The Queen Charlotte represents the early adoption of steam technology on the Great Lakes, marking the transition from sail-powered vessels to steam-powered transportation. Her construction in 1819 places her among the first generation of steamers on Lake Ontario.
  • Economic Development of Upper Canada: By facilitating passenger travel and freight transport, the Queen Charlotte contributed to the economic and social development of Upper Canada (modern-day Ontario). Steamers like the Queen Charlotte were critical in connecting settlements, enabling the movement of people, goods, and mail in a rapidly growing region.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Nil return.

Resources & Links

The Queen Charlotte, a 150-foot wooden sidewheel steamer, was built in 1819 at Finkle’s Point near Bath, Ontario, by Teabout & Chapman. As one of the earliest steam-powered vessels on Lake Ontario, she played a significant role in transporting passengers and freight across the lake during the early 19th century. Her stranding and destruction in 1837 near Cataraqui Bay, west of Kingston, marked the end of a vessel that had served during a pivotal time in the transition from sail to steam on the Great Lakes.

Her story highlights the challenges faced by early steamships, from mechanical vulnerabilities to the perils of Great Lakes storms. Despite her relatively short operational life, the Queen Charlotte contributed to the growth and connectivity of settlements in Upper Canada, making her an important figure in the maritime history of Lake Ontario.