Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

William IV

Explore the history of the William IV, a pioneering steamer that served as a gunboat during the Patriot War and later transitioned to a tugboat on the St. Lawrence River.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: William IV
  • Type: Steamer
  • Year Built: 1831
  • Builder: James Wood
  • Dimensions: Length: 140 ft (42.67 m); Beam: 25 ft; Depth of hold: 10 ft
  • Registered Tonnage: 450 tons
  • Location: Gananoque, Ontario
  • Original Owners: John MacDonald and associates; later Calvin & Breck

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The William IV was a wooden steamer with four smokestacks, designed for passenger and freight transport on the Great Lakes.

Description

Launched on October 29, 1832, the William IV was patterned after Hudson River steamers. It featured a sidewheel propulsion system powered by a 200 horsepower vertical beam engine, with 26-foot paddle wheels.

History

The vessel operated between Prescott, Ontario, and various ports along Quinte, later servicing Toronto. In 1838, it was chartered by the Canadian government during the Patriot War to serve as a gunboat, participating in the Battle of the Windmill.

After being beached during a gale in 1840, it was recovered and repaired. By 1845, it was owned by Calvin & Breck and converted into a tugboat, used for log rafting and towing along the St. Lawrence River and Rideau Canal.

Retired in 1858, the William IV was replaced by the William (1860), which utilized its machinery.

Significant Incidents

  • 1838: Chartered as a gunboat during the Patriot War.
  • 1840: Beached during a gale but recovered and repaired.

Final Disposition

The William IV was retired from service in 1858 and replaced by the William (1860).

Current Condition & Accessibility

The current condition of the wreck is unknown as the vessel was retired and replaced, with no known remains.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”william-iv” title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]

The William IV stands as a significant part of Great Lakes maritime history, showcasing the evolution of steam-powered vessels and their roles in both commerce and conflict.

Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record

This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.

Identification & Site Information

  • Vessel Name: William IV
  • Year of Build: 1831
  • Built At: Gananoque, Ontario
  • Vessel Type: Steamer (with four smokestacks)
  • Hull Material: Wood
  • Number of Decks: 2
  • Builder: James Wood
  • Original Owner: John MacDonald and associates, Gananoque, Ontario
  • Propulsion: Sidewheel
  • Engine Type: Vertical Beam (Walking Beam)
  • Number of Cylinders: 1
  • Propulsion Notes: Powered by a 200 horsepower engine (55 x 96 inches) built by Bennett & Henderson Foundry in Kingston. The ship was equipped with 26-foot paddle wheels. The machinery was later transferred to the William (1860).
  • Hull Dimensions
    • Length: 140 feet
    • Beam: 25 feet
    • Depth: 10 feet
    • Tonnage (Old Style): 450 tons

History & Final Disposition

The William IV was launched on October 29, 1832, and was patterned after Hudson River steamers. It operated between Prescott, Ontario, and ports along Quinte and later serviced Toronto.

In 1838, during the Patriot War, the William IV was chartered by the Canadian government to serve as a gunboat. It participated in dispersing a band of Patriots near Prescott in the Battle of the Windmill, alongside the vessels Cobourne and Experiment .

In 1840, the steamer was beached near Prince Edward during a gale, but it was recovered and repaired. By 1845, the vessel had come under the ownership of Calvin & Breck and was converted into a tugboat at Garden Island. It was used for log rafting, towing barges, and hauling freight along the St. Lawrence River, the Rideau Canal, and the Bay of Quinte.

In 1858, after many years of service, the William IV was retired. It was replaced by the William (1860), which was built on the bottom of the J.W. Brook and received the machinery from the William IV .

Final Disposition

  • Date: 1858
  • How: Retired from service and replaced by the William in 1860.

Conclusion

The William IV was a pioneering steamer on the Great Lakes, particularly notable for its involvement in the Patriot War as a gunboat and its long service in towing and freight operations. Its conversion to a tugboat by Calvin & Breck reflects the adaptive reuse of vessels in the 19th century, especially on the busy waterways of the St. Lawrence and surrounding regions.

unknown-shipwreck-15579 1858-03-14 07:52:00