Research (1861 ship) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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|---|---|
 Canada |
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| Name | Research |
| Owner | Thomas Killam |
| Port of registry | Yarmouth, Nova Scotia |
| Builder | John Richards, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia |
| Launched | November 18, 1861 |
| Fate | Sold 1873 in London, England |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | 1460 Gross |
| Length | 200 ft. |
| Beam | 41 ft. |
| Depth | 30 ft |
| Decks | 3 |
| Propulsion | Sail |
| Sail plan | Ship |
The Research was a large full-rigged ship built in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada. This sailing ship became famous because of its incredibly brave and determined crew. In 1866, they managed to replace the ship's rudder eight times during a terrible storm in the North Atlantic Ocean. This amazing feat allowed them to survive and reach their destination.
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Building the Research
The Research was built in 1861 for Thomas Killam, a well-known ship owner. At the time, it was the biggest ship ever built in Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia. It was a full-rigged ship, meaning it had three or more masts with square sails on all of them.
The Great Storm of 1866
In the fall of 1866, the Research was on a long journey. It was sailing from Quebec in Canada to Glasgow, Scotland. As the ship left the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and entered the open North Atlantic Ocean, a sudden and very violent storm hit.
The storm was so strong that it badly damaged the ship's rudder. A rudder is like a big fin at the back of a ship that helps steer it. Soon after, the rudder broke off completely! This left the ship drifting without control in the middle of the huge ocean.
Eight New Rudders
Even though their ship was badly damaged, the crew of the Research did not give up. They worked together to build new rudders using whatever materials they had on board. These temporary rudders are called "jury rigged rudders."
Amazingly, they had to build and attach eight different jury-rigged rudders! Each time one broke, they built another. This incredible effort allowed the damaged ship to slowly make its way across the ocean. After 88 long days, the Research finally reached its destination in Scotland.
The Brave Churchill Cousins
The captain of the Research was George Churchill. His first mate, Aaron Churchill, was his cousin. Aaron was the one who did most of the dangerous work of repairing the rudder while in the water. Both men were celebrated for their amazing courage, skill, and determination. For the rest of their lives, they were known by the special nickname "Rudder Churchill."
Later Years of the Ship
The Research continued to sail for a few more years. In 1872, the ship was sold to new owners in Saint John, New Brunswick. Just one year later, in 1873, it was sold again. This time, it was sold to owners outside of the British shipping registry, meaning it was no longer officially a British ship.
