EMPEROR

Shipbuildervessel built by Walter Hood & Co. (Shipbuilder, Footdee, Aberdeen 1839 - 1881)

Date1849

Object NameBRIG

MediumWOOD

ClassificationsShip

Dimensionslength 101 3/6' x breadth 21 1/3' x depth 14'
Registered Tonnage: 200 ton (builder's measurement)

Object numberABDSHIP000328

Keywords

Aberdeen Built Ships

About MeYard: Walter Hood & Co.

Fate: Sank after striking Sizewell Bank, 12 February 1875, 3 lives lost.

Propulsion: Sail
Description: Brig rigged, carvel construction, square sterned, 1 deck, 2 masts, no galleries, male figurehead.

Owners:
31/05/1849: Registered in Aberdeen for subscribing owners;
John Dinnson, shipmaster, 48 shares; James Goldie, shipowner, 4 shares; George Jameson, merchant, 4 shares.
Other owners;
James Alexander Steel, doctor of medicine; George Knowles, flesher
(Aberdeen Register of Shipping (Aberdeen City Archives))
1862: A. Hunter, registered in London
1868-75: Francis Devereaux Lambert, John Lambert, James Duke Hill, and James Chapman Smith.

Masters:
1850: Master J. Dinnson.
1858: Master W. Artis.
1859: Master J. Dinnson.
1862: Master A. Pidgeon.
1865: Master S. Bergen.
1868-75: James Chapman Smith.

Voyages:
1850-52: Aberdeen - Baltic
1853-56: Aberdeen - Algoa Bay (now Port Elizabeth)
1856-57: Aberdeen - Cape of Good Hope
1857-58: Aberdeen - London
1859-61: Aberdeen - Archangel
1862-67: London - Coasting
1867-74: Blyth - Baltic

General History:
02/09/1857:
'For sale by public roup in Lemon Tree Tavern, 18 Sept., one sixteenth of brig EMPEROR, of Aberdeen.'
14/10/1857: 'further roup 16th October, upset price reduced to £60.'
(Aberdeen Journal)

21/03/1871:
'Brig EMPEROR of London, with coals bound south, in going out of Corton gateway [Yarmouth] tide being ebb, grounded on the holm. We hear that Garleston & Corton beachmen have laid an anchor and, the weather being fine, it is hoped she will come off at next flood.'
(Ipswich Journal)

21/03/1871:
'Yarmouth, 19 March - EMPEROR, brig, from Shields to Woolwich, has been got off Corton sand by beachmen and has proceeded.'
(The Standard)

09/11/1872:
'Lowestoft, Nov. 8 - EMPEROR, brig, Shields to London, has been assisted off Aldeborough beach, leaky, and into harbour by a tug, having thrown over part of her cargo.'
(The Standard)

27/03/1875:
'EMPEROR, brig, of and from London, for Newcastle, which struck on Sizewell Bank, Feb. 12th, came off on Tuesday and sank. The master and 3 men were saved, 3 others are supposed to have drowned.'
(Manchester Times)

11/03/1875: [extracts from the inquiry into the loss of EMPEROR]
On the evening of 11th of February she lay at anchor two miles below Southwold town, the wind blowing a moderate gale from the S.W. to S.S.W. At 9pm she proceeded on her voyage … the night was dark with rain and sleet, and at about midnight a cast of the lead was taken which gave five fathoms. Her helm was put a-starboard but in about 10 minutes she was struck heavily upon the N.E. end of Sizewell bank. With some difficulty she got off when it was found that she had made four feet of water and that her steering gear was destroyed …
The Captain James Chapman Smith said … About 1 am of the 12th I got the jollyboat over, and in doing so the sea stove in one of her bilge planks. Harrison jumped into the boat and put his jacket over the hole, and all hands got in. … In letting go the tackles the painter [rope] got foul and the ship fell onto the jollyboat and stove her side in... all hands got safely back. I then gave orders to get the longboat out. Not having any tackles to weigh the boat off the chocks, all hands lifted the boat off the chocks and launched her on to the deck on the port side …I went to the galley and got a saucepan and bucket to put into the boat and bale her out The vessel was then level with the water, and we waited for a sea to lift her off the deck. Before we were properly ready, a sea came and lifted the boat's stern up towards the gangway. The four who were saved were standing by the boat steadying her. A second sea came and swept the boat off the ship together with myself and the three men who were steadying her. The four managed to crawl into the boat. The three remaining men were left on the vessel on the starboard side; their names were Robert Worne, Mate; John Sampson, cook and steward; and John Smith AB [Able Seaman]. Our boat was half full of water and we could only find one oar in it. … There was no plug in the boat. I tried to scull back to the vessel, but the ship was out of sight in a few minutes. Those on board could not get to the boat, as they had no means of leaving the vessel. … One man attended to the plughole and two others were employed in bailing water from the boat. At 6am the VIGILANT steamer picked us up …
(Shipping and Mercantile Gazette)