Built in 1873 by W.Hood & Co, Aberdeen for the Aberdeen Line, she was a three masted full rigged ship of 1,520 gross tons. Length 73,53m x beam 11,88m x depth 7,04m (241.3ft x 39ft x 23.1ft), iron hull and accommodation for 50-1st class passengers carried in the poop. Fitted for the carriage of emigrants in the ‘tween decks.
Launched in Sep.1873 as a passenger clipper, Samuel Plimsoll was present at the launching. He had said, when presenting his case to Parliament that Thompson’s Aberdeen Line was the only concern that which never loaded their ships too deeply. In gratitude at this recognition (which must have improved his trade), George Thompson named the ship after him.
She was a fast ship, but was inclined to be dis-masted and to lose gear. However, she proved to be a popular ship. On Dec.19th 1873 she left Plymouth with 180 emigrants and arrived at Port Jackson 1st Feb after only 74 days land to land.
In 1875 when bound for Melbourne with 360 emigrants, she was in collision with, and sank the ENRICA in the English Channel, with no damage to herself.
She embarked 450 emigrants at Plymouth in 1878 and made an 86 day passage to Melbourne. She then made the best return passage of the year with wool to London in 80 days. Dis-masted in a tropical squall in 1880, she was repaired at sea and still arrived at Sydney in 83 days, to the surprise of the Master of an American clipper which had offered help at sea and arrived at Sydney to find that the SAMUEL PLIMSOLL had beaten him to it by several days. In 1883 she sailed to Sydney in 72 days and in 1888 sailed London – Melbourne which was becoming the terminal port.
She caught fire in the Thames in 1899 and was scuttled, but was re-floated in 1900 and sold to Shaw Savill & Co for their New Zealand trade.
In 1902 she sailed from Glasgow for Otago and was severely dis-masted off New Zealand and towed to Gisborne. Not repaired, she was towed to Sydney and in 1903 was sold as a hulk for use at various Australian ports. In this year she was at Fremantle.
Source [Merchant Fleets by Duncan Haws, vol.17, Aberdeen and Aberdeen & Commonwealth Lines]
Samuel Plimsoll
More on Samuel Plimsoll at Aberdeen Ships
Last updated May 2019 Bruce Hannah
