English ship Swan (1641) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids History
England
Name	Swan
Launched	1641 as HMS Swann
Commissioned	1646 as Swan
Captured	1645
Fate	Sunk, 13 September 1653
General characteristics
Tons burthen	200 (bm)
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship

The Swan was a 200-ton warship from England. She was built in 1641 for the King's side during the English Civil War. But in 1645, her crew decided to switch sides. They joined the Commonwealth of England, which was led by Oliver Cromwell.

This ship had twelve cannons, which were made by a famous gun-maker named John Browne. The Swan was part of Cromwell's fleet. This fleet attacked a place called Duart Castle on the Isle of Mull in Scotland. This castle was a strong place for the King's supporters.

Sadly, the Swan sank in a big storm on September 13, 1653. This happened off the west coast of Scotland.

In 1979, a diver found the remains of the Swan. Later, in the 1990s, important items were brought up from the wreck. This work was led by Colin Martin, an expert in old ships, from the University of St Andrews. They found a very old pocket watch that looked like a lump of rock. They also found many silver coins, iron cannons, and other military items. These discoveries are now kept at the National Museum of Scotland.

History of the Swan

How the Swan was Captured

In 1645, the Swan was anchored in Dublin, Ireland. Her captain was not on the ship. The crew was unhappy because they had not been paid regularly. Another ship, a frigate from the Parliament's side, convinced them to change loyalties. The frigate's captain promised the Swan's crew they would get their wages on time.

So, the Swan joined the Cromwellian fleet. This meant she was now fighting for Parliament, not the King.

The Sinking of the Swan

In September 1653, a group of Cromwell's ships sailed to Duart Castle. This castle was a strong base for the King's supporters, the Royalists. However, the Maclean family, who owned the castle, had already left.

On September 13, 1653, a very strong storm hit from the northwest. This storm caused two other merchant ships, the Martha and Margaret and the Speedwell, to sink. The Swan also sank during this terrible storm. The wreck of the Swan was found many years later in 1979.

Protecting the Shipwreck Site

The area around Duart Point is now a special marine protected area. This means it is a protected place in the sea. This area covers where the Swan likely sank. It was made a protected site on November 1, 2013. This helps to keep the shipwreck safe for the future.

Amazing Discoveries from the Wreck

The Cannon from the Ship

In 2003, one of the cannons from the Swan was brought up from the sea. It was an iron cannon called a 'Drake'. It was made by John Browne, the same person who made cannons for the famous ship, Sovereign of the Seas. Experts believe this cannon is the only one of its kind left.

This cannon weighed about 415 pounds (188 kg). It had a 3.5-inch (89 mm) opening and fired a cannonball that weighed about 4 pounds (1.8 kg).

The Incredible Pocket Watch

A very old and rusty pocket watch was found on the Swan wreck in 1979. It was covered in barnacles and hard to recognize. It was sent to the National Museum of Scotland.

Scientists there, Lore Troalen, Darren Cox, and Theo Skinner, wanted to see inside the watch. They used a special CT X-ray scanner. This scanner was first made by X-Tek Systems in the UK. This same type of scanner was used to make a detailed 3D picture of the Antikythera mechanism. That was an ancient Greek device found in a 2,200-year-old shipwreck.

The CT scans of the watch showed amazing details of its inside. They could see delicate brass gears, pins, and pillars. They even found the watchmaker's name: Niccholas Higginson from London. The scans also showed beautiful decorations. There were floral designs, Roman numerals on the watch face, and a fleur-de-lis. In the very center of the watch face was an English rose.

The Swan on TV

The story of the Swan and its discoveries was shown on a TV program. It was part of Channel 4's show called Wreck Detectives.