ROYAL TAR

Date1832

Object NamePADDLE STEAMER

MediumWOOD

ClassificationsShip

DimensionsRegistered Tonnage: 307 ton

Object numberABDSHIP001768

Keywords

Aberdeen Built Ships

About MeYard: John Duffus & Co.
Subsequent Name: INFANTE DON LUIZ (1847).

Fate: unknown.

Propulsion: Steam
Description: Paddle steamer, 2 masts, schooner rigged.

Owners:
1833-37: Dublin & London Shipping Co., registered in Dublin. (Lloyd's)
1838-40: Bourne & Co, registered at London.
1841-44: Peninsular Steam Navigation Co.

Masters:
1833: Master J. O. Head
1834-35: Master J. Oswald
1835-38: Master Symons
1838-40: Master S. Lewis
1841-44: Master Brooks

Voyages (from Lloyd's):
1833: Dublin - London
1838-40: Falmouth - Lisbon
1841-44: London - Gibraltar

General History:
09/01/1833:
Dublin, Jan 1. The greater part of the cargo of the ROYAL TAR (steamer), on shore near Arklow, has been landed and it is estimated one half is free of damage.
(Aberdeen Journal)

16/01/1833:
The ROYAL TAR, steamer, was got off the beach yesterday and arrived at Kingstown in the afternoon.
(Aberdeen Journal)

10/12/1834:
The ROYAL TAR, steamer, lately of the London and Dublin Line, but now hired and armed by the agent of the Queen of Spain, sailed from London on Sunday last for Ferrol for the purpose of intercepting any supplies going to the Carlists.
(Aberdeen Journal)

15/07/1835:
The ROYAL TAR, steamer, with Colonel Evans' troops on board for the Queen of Spain, has been obliged to put into Plymouth for repairs, her boiler having burst.
(Aberdeen Journal)

06/07/1836:
The ROYAL TAR, steamer, sailed on Tuesday morning for Santander with 950 recruits for the Queen of Spain, and which will in all probability be the last... in consequence of the treatment the deluded soldiers have experience from want of pay and proper rations.
(Aberdeen Journal)

06/09/1837:
Serious accidents have befallen the ROYAL TAR, Irish steamer from London to Dublin. At Plymouth she was detained 6 hours repairing the paddle boxes. At Falmouth she caught fire, but it was soon extinguished.On Thursday at 1pm, rather foggy at Arklow, 50 miles from Dublin, she went on the shoals. One of the passengers writes "The crying, bellowing and confusion of the passengers could not be equalled. As soon as the boats came off they threw themselves into them, leaving luggage and everything behind. Some broken bones etc. took place but no lives lost. Some threw themselves overboard and swam to the boats. I found myself at 7 o'clock the only passenger aboard, so with the Captain and Crew we worked all night, got anchors out and at five in the morning she floated off, with seven feet of water in the hold. We got on board 60 or 70 raw Irishmen to work the pumps, hired a schooner to tow us and got into Dublin on Friday night. All the passengers lost their luggage which was pillaged by the Irish."
(Aberdeen Journal)

27/07/1842:
The ROYAL TAR, steamer, arrived at Falmouth on Saturday, bringing the Lisbon papers.
(Aberdeen Journal)

12/05/1847:
The ROYAL TAR, steamer, chartered by the Lisbon Government, has been captured by the insurgents and carried into St. Ube's.
(Aberdeen Journal)

14/07/1847:
The Ship ROYAL TAR, captured in the service of the insurgents, is given up and now recommissioned by the Portugese Government.
(Aberdeen Journal)

Vessel No. 1 in fleet list of P&O Steam Navigation Co. 154' x 27.6' x 6.5'. Machinery - 2 cylinder engines manufactured by builder, John Duffus & Co. Speed 8 knots.
1832: Traded for Dublin and London Steam Packet Co.
1832-34: On charter during the Portuguese civil war.
01/06/1834: Commenced 1st of 2 voyages from London and Falmouth to Lisbon on charter to Willox and Anderson (regarded as first voyages of Peninsular S. N. Co.)
1834: Chartered to Government of Spain and renamed REYNA GOVERNANDOLA.
06/06/1835: In association with HMS CASTOR and HMS RINGDOVE relieved siege of Bilbao by Carlist forces.
18/07/1835: Landed 1st Regiment of the British Legion at San Sebastian.
1836: Resumed service on Dublin/London route.
1838: Extensively altered and fitted with new engines and thereafter employed on Peninsular Steam Navigation Co. services.
1840: Registered under Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co.
01/1847: Chartered for use as relief ship during Irish famine.
1847: Sold to Portugese Government for service as a troop ship. Renamed INFANTE DON LUIZ.
Stephen Rabson and Kevin O'Donoghue (1988), "P&O: A Fleet History" (World Ship Society, Kendal), p. 24 (with picture)

Note: Named after King William IV, who served in Royal Navy.