San Telmo (Spanish ship) facts for kids
.jpg)
Spanish ship of the Line San Telmo by Alejo Berlinguero, Madrid Naval Museum
|
|
| History | |
|---|---|
 Spain |
|
| Name | San Telmo |
| Namesake | Peter González or Erasmus of Formia |
| Operator | Spanish Navy |
| Launched | 20 June 1788 |
| Fate | Sunk, 2 September 1819 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement | 2,550 tons |
| Length | 53 m (174 ft) |
| Beam | 14.5 m (48 ft) |
| Complement | 644 |
The San Telmo was a powerful Spanish warship, known as a ship of the line, launched in 1788. It was named after "Saint Peter González" or "Saint Erasmus of Formia". This ship had 74 guns and was built to fight at sea. Sadly, it sank in 1819 while on an important mission. It was carrying extra soldiers and supplies to Peru during a war for independence. Some people believe that its crew or passengers might have been the first to discover and land on Antarctica.
Contents
The San Telmo Ship's Journey
In 1819, the San Telmo was the main ship of a Spanish navy group. Captain Joaquín de Toledo y Parra was in charge of the ship. The whole group was led by Brigadier Rosendo Porlier y Asteguieta. Their goal was to sail to Callao, Peru. They were going to help the Spanish forces there. These forces were fighting against groups who wanted independence for their countries in Spanish America.
Facing a Big Storm
While sailing, the San Telmo faced very bad weather. It was in the Drake Passage, a stormy area south of Cape Horn. On September 2, 1819, the ship was badly damaged by the severe storm. It eventually sank. There were 644 officers, soldiers, and sailors on board the San Telmo.
A Possible Discovery of Antarctica
Many people believe that some of the crew or passengers from the San Telmo might have been the first humans to land on Antarctica. After the ship sank, parts of the wreckage were later found. A sailor named William Smith found signs of the ship on Livingston Island. This island is part of the South Shetland Islands.
First Steps on a New Continent
If any crew members survived the sinking and made it to land on Livingston Island, they would have been the first people in history to reach the continent of Antarctica. This would be a huge and accidental discovery!
Remembering the Ship
Today, an island near the north coast of Livingston Island is named San Telmo Island. It was named after the ship to remember its story.
A Clever Trick in Battle
The San Telmo was also part of a clever trick during a battle. In February 1820, before the capture of Valdivia, a group of independence fighters used a smart plan. They told the Spanish soldiers defending the Valdivian Fort System that they were part of the San Telmo convoy. This trick helped them get close to the beach at Aguada del Inglés without being stopped. After that, their attack began.
See also
In Spanish: San Telmo (Navío de 1788) para niños
- List of ships of the line of Spain
- List of disasters in Antarctica by death toll
