USS Hamilton (Diana)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Hamilton (originally Diana)
• Type: Two-masted schooner
• Year Built: 1809
• Builder: Henry Eagle and H.D. Hugunin
• Dimensions: Length: ~67 ft (20.4 m); Beam: ~17 ft (5.2 m); Depth of hold: N/A
• Registered Tonnage: ~76 tons
• Depth at Wreck Site: 90 m / 300 ft
• Location: Lake Ontario, off Port Dalhousie, Ontario
• Coordinates: 43°13'30" N, 79°16'00" W
• Official Number: N/A (pre-registration era)
• Original Owners: Matthew McNair (original owner), U.S. Navy
• Number of Masts: Two

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Hamilton began her life as the Diana, a private merchant schooner built for the bustling cross-lake trade of the early 1800s. Her shallow-draft, two-masted design was ideal for carrying cargos of flour, lumber, salt, and other commodities between the port of Oswego and points in Upper Canada. Converted hastily for war service in 1812, she was retrofitted with naval guns and crewed by U.S. Navy sailors as part of Commodore Chauncey’s squadron on Lake Ontario. Like many civilian vessels pressed into military duty, she retained a high centre of gravity, making her vulnerable in foul weather when heavily armed.

Description

The Hamilton, originally named Diana, was a wooden two-masted schooner built in 1809 at Oswego, New York. Commissioned by merchant Matthew McNair, she served in the grain, timber, and potash trade on Lake Ontario. With the outbreak of the War of 1812, she was acquired by the U.S. Navy, retrofitted with naval guns, and renamed in honor of Secretary of the Navy Paul Hamilton. The vessel was approximately 67 feet long, 17 feet wide, and had a tonnage of about 76 tons. She was armed with 9-10 cannons and had a crew of approximately 40-45 at the time of her loss.

History

Matthew McNair commissioned the Diana in 1809 to serve the lucrative grain, timber, and potash trade on Lake Ontario. The U.S. Navy purchased her in October 1812 for military operations during the War of 1812, renaming her Hamilton. She was retrofitted with naval guns and operated from Sackets Harbor, NY. Under the command of Lieutenant Walter Winter, Hamilton participated in naval patrols and supported amphibious assaults, including the attack on Fort George in May 1813.

Significant Incidents

• Loss Date: 8 August 1813
• Loss Circumstances: Capsized in a sudden line squall while at anchor off Fourteen Mile Creek.
• Casualties: Approximately 42 lives lost.

Final Disposition

On 8 August 1813, Hamilton capsized during a sudden storm, leading to the loss of approximately 42 crew members. The wreck was rediscovered in 1973, lying upright and remarkably intact at a depth of 90 meters (300 feet), preserved in cold water.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck of the Hamilton is upright and remarkably intact, with features such as cannons and personal effects still visible. It is protected as a Canadian National Historic Site and war grave, with no diving allowed to preserve its condition.

Resources & Links

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The wreck of the Hamilton serves as a poignant reminder of the dangers faced by sailors during the War of 1812 and the unforgiving nature of the Great Lakes. It remains a significant archaeological site, offering insights into early 19th-century naval warfare and shipbuilding.