Lammermuir (1864 clipper) facts for kids
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Lammermuir, built in 1864
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United Kingdom |
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| Name | Lammermuir |
| Namesake | Lammermuir Hills |
| Owner | J&R Dunbar Willis |
| Port of registry | London |
| Builder | Pile, Spence & Co, West Hartlepool |
| Yard number | 60 |
| Launched | 23 July 1864 |
| Completed | 2 February 1865 |
| Identification |
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| Fate | Missing at sea 1876 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Tea clipper |
| Tonnage | 1,054 NRT |
| Length | 200.4 ft (61.1 m) |
| Beam | 35.5 ft (10.8 m) |
| Depth | 20.9 ft (6.4 m) |
| Sail plan | full-rigged ship |
The Lammermuir was a very fast sailing ship, known as an extreme clipper. It was built in 1864 by a company called Pile, Spence and Company in West Hartlepool, England. The ship was made for John "Jock" "White Hat" Willis & Son, a shipping company in London. This was actually the second ship named Lammermuir that John Willis owned. His first Lammermuir was wrecked in 1863.
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Building a Fast Ship
The Lammermuir was built at Swanson Dock in West Hartlepool. It was launched into the water on July 23, 1864, and finished being built on February 2, 1865. This ship had a strong hull (the main body of the ship) made of iron.
Ship's Measurements
The Lammermuir was quite a large ship for its time.
- It was about 200.4 feet (61.1 meters) long.
- It was 35.5 feet (10.8 meters) wide.
- Its depth was 20.9 feet (6.4 meters).
- It weighed about 1054 tons.
The ship had three tall masts and was a full-rigged ship. This means it had square sails on all three masts, making it very powerful and fast. John Willis registered the ship in London. Its official number was 50192, and its special code letters were HCVW.
Adventures at Sea
The Lammermuir was specially designed to carry tea from China. These ships were built for speed to bring the first tea of the season to market.
Facing Typhoons
In 1866, the Lammermuir faced a very dangerous journey. While sailing in the East China Sea and the Pacific Ocean, it was hit by two powerful typhoons (huge tropical storms). The ship's captain was Captain M Bell.
On this trip, the Lammermuir carried a special group of 18 missionaries and four children. They were part of the China Inland Mission and were traveling to China. They finally arrived in Shanghai on September 30, 1866.
Hudson Taylor, a famous missionary, remembered the scariest part of the voyage:
The ship looked truly terrifying. It was rolling wildly, and the masts and yards (parts of the sails) were hanging down. They were tearing our only sail and hitting against the main yard like a battering ram. The whole deck was covered in water. The loud noise of the water, the clanging chains, and the banging of the broken masts and sails made it almost impossible to hear any orders.
A Race Across the Ocean
In 1873, the Lammermuir left London heading for Adelaide, Australia. But there was a problem! The ship's carpenter had left behind his important tool chest. John Willis, the ship's owner, quickly arranged for another ship, the Orient, to take the tool chest and deliver it to the Lammermuir at sea.
The captain of the Orient made a bet with Willis. He said he would catch up to the Lammermuir before it crossed the Equator and transfer the chest. And he did! This shows how fast these clipper ships were and how determined their captains could be.
Lost at Sea
The Lammermuir's last known voyage began on November 10, 1876. It left Adelaide, Australia, heading back to London. However, the ship never arrived. It was sadly presumed to have been lost at sea, and its fate remains a mystery.
