CENTURION
Shipbuildervessel built by
Walter Hood & Co.
(Shipbuilder, Footdee, Aberdeen 1839 - 1881)
Date1869
Object NameCLIPPER
MediumCOMPOSITE
ClassificationsShip
Dimensionslength 208 7/12' x breadth 35 1/12' x depth 21 1/12'
Gross Tonnage: 965 ton
Gross Tonnage: 965 ton
Object numberABDSHIP000371
Keywords
Fate: wrecked while being towed out of Sydney, 16 January 1887. All crew survived.
Propulsion: Sail
Description: ship rigged clipper, 2 decks, a break and a top gallant forecastle, 3 masts, altered to barque June 1886, round stern, carvel built, no galleries, demi male figurehead.
Owners:
1869: Registered at Aberdeen for subscribing owners;
William Henderson, Cornelius Thompson, both Aberdeen, Stephen Thompson, London, all shipowners, joint owners, 40 shares.
Other shareholders;
Thomas Mitchell, shipmaster, 8 shares, James Buyers, shipowner, 4 shares, James Grieg, shipbuilder, 4 shares, all Aberdeen. Isaac Merchant, shipmaster, 4 shares, George Hopcraft, shipping agent, 4 shares, both London.
(Aberdeen Register of Shipping (Aberdeen City Archives))
Masters:
1870-79: Master C. Taylor
1880-81: Master S. Taylor
1882-85: Master T. Taylor
Voyages:
1870-85: London - Australia
General History:
Master Captain Thomas Mitchell, born Newburgh, Aberdeenshire in 1832 and died on board the Centurion on the homeward passage from Sydney, with his wife and children on board, at the age of 38.
Extract from letter by Captain Mitchell to his wife in Mary written on the maiden voyage, July 1869:
'Well, darling, the more I see of the 'Centurion' the more I am convinced the 'Queen' would beat her. I am very much annoyed at this as everyone expects she is going to do such wonders. I can't understand it myself. I never saw but one ship go past the 'Queen' the whole eight voyages I was in her but I have already seen several go past the 'Centurion'. Mr Greig will have to try and alter his model...'
In a letter, later that same voyage, to his friend Captain Edward of the Thermopylae, Captain Mitchell wrote of the Centurion;
'Since writing the previous part of this letter, the Centurion has been pleasing me hugely. We had a day or two of rather light wind after passing the Cape [of Good Hope] but since then she has been rushing along at a great rate. Of course, I can't compare with the Thermopylae from the start to the Otway [Cape Otway, Victoria] but I am vain enough to compare with her when I had wind [...] I should just like to have her alongside of me down here with plenty of wind. We have had the weather remarkably fine. Our main topgallant sheets have never been stowed since we left the Downs. I am very glad the Centurion is going to do something good, if she gets the chance.'
[Extracts reproduced courtesy of Mr & Mrs Donald, Aberdeen]
"Capt. Mitchell overlooked her building and was her first commander. She was a very fast ship and he always hoped to beat the THERMOPYLAE with her, but never succeeded. On her first voyage she went out to Sydney in 69 days. It was a light weather passage and she never started the sheets of her main top gallant sail the whole way. She is stated to have made 300, 348 and 356 miles in 3 successive days running down her easting, but I have been unable to verify these runs. Capt. Mitchell died on her second voyage just before reaching the channel homeward bound. She also made some creditable tea passages, but was mostly kept in the Sydney trade. In 1871 she went out in 77 days and in 1872 in 78 days."
(Basil Lubbock (1948 edn), "The Colonial Clippers" (James Brown & Son, Glasgow)
The CENTURION struck rocks and broke up at North Head, Sydney Harbour, Australia on 16 January 1887. Whilst being towed out from Sydney, the Captain of her tug, afraid he might collide with the barque MANHEGAN which was anchored nearby stopped and went astern. The tow broke and the CENTURION drifted ashore and quickly broke up within half an hour. All the crew were saved.
Timber, rusted metal and a chain are all that remain in 18m of water of Quarantine Head, Sydney Harbour.
03/12/1869:
CENTURION, 965 tons, Mitchell, departed Sydney for London.
(Sydney Empire)
31/12/1879:
CENTURION, 965 tons, Taylor, departed Sydney for Shanghai.
Sydney Morning Herald)
11/06/1884:
CENTURION, 965 tons, T. Taylor, cleared 10 June for London.
(Sydney Morning Herald).
19/03/1885:
CENTURION, 965 tons, Thomas Taylor, cleared Sydney for London 18 March.
(Sydney Morning Herald)
16/1/1886:
CENTURION departed Sydney 15 Jan. for Newcastle (N.S.W.) & London. Cargo included 1268 bales wool & 190 casks tallow.
(Sydney Morning Herald).
17/01/1887:
Well known barque CENTURION, trader between London & Sydney for last 17 years, went on the rocks at North Head & disappeared within half an hour afterwards. She left Walker's Wharf at 1 a.m. yesterday under command of Capt. Charles Taylor for Honolulu. As she & her tug were rounding south reef a barque was seen right between the heads, apparently anchored and almost simultaneously a very heavy squall, with thick rain, came on. Tug stopped engines. Tow rope at once slackened & CENTURION began to drift away to leeward onto north head and rope parted. Capt. Taylor let go the anchor, but it had no effect & vessel struck ground and began bumping heavily & canted over on her beam ends. Pilot steamer which had been attending other barque came to rescue of crew of CENTURION, which seemed in imminent danger of being smashed to pieces (her own tug having tow rope wrapped round her propeller). With difficulty in the heavy sea 2 boats were lowered & went under the bows of CENTURION, which now pointed seawards. Watching their opportunity, CENTURION'S crew dropped into the boats, captain being last to leave, very soon afterwards CENTURION gave a great plunge forward & disappeared beneath the waves. On their arrival in Sydney they went aboard the ABERGELDIE (Aberdeen clipper owned by Duthie), where Capt. & Mrs Johnston showed them every hospitality and kindness. Neither vessel or cargo was insured, this was Capt. Charles Taylor's first voyage in CENTURION, Capt. Thomas Taylor being compelled to remain at home owing to ill health. Crew were sent to sailors home, where they received every attention.
(Sydney Morning Herald).
18/01/1887:
'It appears that while the 'Centurion' was being towed out of Sydney, the tow-rope snapped and the vessel being left at the mercy of a rather rough sea and a stiff breeze, was driven on the rocks...crew were all saved; the vessel became a total wreck.'
(Aberdeen Journal)
1841
