Red Jacket was a clipper ship, one of the largest and fastest ever built.[3] She was also the first ship of the White Star Line company. She was named after Sagoyewatha, a famous Seneca Indian chief, called "Red Jacket" by settlers.[4] She was designed by Samuel Hartt Pook, built by George Thomas in Rockland, Maine, and launched in 1853, the last ship to be launched from this yard.[4]
History
Red Jacket left Rockland under tow, and was rigged in New York. Her captain was a veteran packet ship commander, Asa Eldridge of Yarmouth, Massachusetts,[5] and she had a crew of 65. On the passage to Liverpool, she averaged 14.5 kn for the latter part of the voyage, with sustained bursts of 17 kn.