Red Jacket
Red Jacket was a celebrated American-built clipper ship launched in 1853 and remembered for setting a major New York–Liverpool sailing record.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Red Jacket was a large mid-nineteenth-century clipper ship rather than a modern consumer brand. Built in Rockland, Maine, and launched in 1853, she became one of the best-known American sailing vessels of the clipper era. The ship was designed by naval architect Samuel Hartt Pook and constructed by George Thomas at the final launch from Thomas's Rockland yard. Her name referred to Sagoyewatha, the prominent Seneca leader whom many settlers called Red Jacket. The vessel was designed for speed and long-distance commercial service. After leaving Rockland under tow, she was rigged in New York and placed under the command of Asa Eldridge, an experienced packet-ship captain from Yarmouth, Massachusetts. Her crew numbered approximately 65. On her maiden passage from New York to Liverpool, Red Jacket achieved an exceptionally fast performance. She covered the dock-to-dock route in 13 days, 1 hour, and 25 minutes, establishing a record for sailing ships on that route. The ship's run from Sandy Hook to the entrance buoy at the Mersey took about 11 days, although unfavorable conditions delayed the harbor pilot and extended the official dock-to-dock time. Her speed attracted large crowds in Liverpool, where tugs initially struggled to take lines from the rapidly approaching clipper before Eldridge shortened sail and maneuvered her into berth. The record generated public attention and a brief dispute over the accuracy of the ship's log. A letter associated with Lloyd's of London questioned the reported performance, while a subsequent correspondent defended the American account. Eldridge later responded publicly and explained the calculation of the passage, reinforcing the historical record of the voyage. Following her arrival in Liverpool, Red Jacket was coppered below the waterline and refitted for the Australian immigrant trade. Liverpool investors, including Pilkington & Wilcox, acquired the vessel, and her registry changed in April 1854. She was then chartered by the White Star Line for service to Melbourne. Under Captain Samuel Reid, who held a fractional ownership interest in the ship, Red Jacket completed the Liverpool–Melbourne passage in 69 days. Only James Baines was reported to have made that route faster among clipper ships. In this period Red Jacket was the first ship associated with the White Star Line, decades before the better-known ocean-liner company of the same name became prominent. Red Jacket continued in immigrant and long-distance merchant service until 1866, when she was sold to Portugal. Her later career included voyages connected with Lisbon, Boston, and other Atlantic ports. In May 1871 she grounded at Ponta Delgada during a Lisbon–Boston voyage but was refloated and completed the passage. From 1872 she was used as a lumber carrier between Quebec and London, joining other former clipper ships in the transatlantic timber trade. By the late 1870s the vessel had deteriorated substantially. In January 1878 she reached Boston in a leaky condition, and her crew refused to continue. Records identified her at that stage as a collier on a voyage from New York to Lisbon. In 1882, while sailing from Lisbon toward Casablanca, she dragged her anchors during a heavy gale and was driven ashore near Soria Kedima on the Atlantic coast of Morocco. The wreckage was sold for approximately £113. The remains disappeared from recorded view by 1907. Red Jacket's historical importance rests on her speed, her role in the development of long-distance sailing and immigrant transport, her association with the early White Star Line, and her representation of the peak and eventual decline of the commercial clipper era.
History
Red Jacket was designed by Samuel Hartt Pook and built by George Thomas in Rockland, Maine. Launched in 1853, she was the last vessel launched from Thomas's yard and was among the largest and fastest clippers of her period. The ship was named for Sagoyewatha, the Seneca leader known to settlers as Red Jacket. After being towed to New York and rigged there, the ship sailed for Liverpool under Asa Eldridge with a crew of about 65. Her first transatlantic passage became the defining achievement of her career: she completed the New York–Liverpool route in 13 days, 1 hour, and 25 minutes, with sustained high speeds during the latter part of the voyage. The result prompted public excitement in Liverpool and a short-lived controversy over the interpretation of her log. Eldridge later defended the reported timing in correspondence published by The Times. In Liverpool, Red Jacket received coppering and cabin alterations for the Australian immigrant trade. Pilkington & Wilcox and other Liverpool investors acquired her, with the registry change recorded on 24 April 1854. She was chartered by the White Star Line for service to Melbourne. Under Captain Samuel Reid, who owned one-sixteenth of the vessel, she made the Liverpool–Melbourne passage in 69 days. Only James Baines was said to have completed the route faster among comparable clippers. This service established Red Jacket as the first ship connected with the White Star Line. The ship remained in immigrant service until 1866, when she was sold to Portugal. In May 1871 she grounded at Ponta Delgada on a Lisbon–Boston voyage, but was refloated and completed the passage. From 1872 she worked as a lumber carrier between Quebec and London, part of the later commercial life of former clippers in the transatlantic timber trade. In January 1878 Red Jacket arrived in Boston in poor, leaky condition, and her crew refused to continue. She was then recorded as a collier traveling from New York to Lisbon. In 1882, during a voyage from Lisbon to Casablanca, she dragged her anchors during a gale and was driven ashore near Soria Kedima. The wreckage was sold for £113. The vessel had disappeared entirely from surviving records by 1907. Her career illustrates both the technological achievement of the clipper era and the later repurposing and decline of fast sailing ships as commercial steam navigation expanded.
- 1882
Final wreck
[1]The vessel was driven ashore near Soria Kedima after dragging her anchors in a gale.
- 1872
Conversion to lumber carriage
[1]Red Jacket entered the Quebec–London timber trade.
- 1866
Sale to Portugal
[1]After years in immigrant service, the clipper was sold to Portuguese interests.
- 1859
Collision with Elizabeth Walker
[1]Red Jacket collided with Elizabeth Walker and rescued that vessel's crew after it sank.
- 1854
Acquisition and Australian refit
[1]Liverpool investors acquired Red Jacket, which was coppered and refitted for the Australian immigrant trade.
- 1854
White Star Line charter
[1]Red Jacket was chartered for the Liverpool–Melbourne route and became the first ship associated with the White Star Line.
- 1853
Launch in Rockland, Maine
[1]Red Jacket was launched from George Thomas's Rockland yard as one of the largest and fastest American clippers.
- 1853
New York–Liverpool speed record
[1]The ship completed the dock-to-dock passage in 13 days, 1 hour, and 25 minutes.
Products and positioning
A high-speed ocean-going clipper designed for competitive long-distance sailing, later adapted for immigrant, merchant, lumber, and bulk-cargo service.
Clipper ship · 1853
Red Jacket clipper ship
A large, speed-oriented sailing vessel built in Rockland, Maine, for long-distance commercial routes. Its principal functions included transatlantic passage-making, immigrant transport, and later cargo carriage. The ship's reputation was established by its unusually fast maiden voyage from New York to Liverpool.
Brand decisions
1866
Sale to Portuguese ownershipM&ABackground
After approximately twelve years in immigrant and long-distance service, the vessel changed commercial ownership.
Action taken
Red Jacket was sold to Portugal.
Aftermath
The ship continued in Atlantic service before later being used for lumber and bulk cargo.
1854
Refit for the Australian immigrant tradeStrategyBackground
After arriving in Liverpool, Red Jacket was adapted for a new commercial role beyond the North Atlantic packet trade.
Action taken
Her bottom was coppered, her cabins were fitted out, and she was chartered for service to Melbourne.
Aftermath
The refit enabled a 69-day Liverpool–Melbourne passage and made Red Jacket the first ship associated with the White Star Line.
Recent events
- 1882
Red Jacket wrecked near Soria Kedima[1]
Other
After dragging her anchors in a heavy gale while sailing from Lisbon toward Casablanca, the aging ship was driven ashore. Her wreckage was sold and later disappeared from records.
- 1871
Red Jacket grounded at Ponta Delgada[1]
Other
The vessel ran aground during a Lisbon–Boston voyage, was subsequently refloated, and completed the voyage.
- 1859
Red Jacket rescues crew after collision[1]
Other
During a Liverpool–Melbourne voyage, Red Jacket collided with the merchant ship Elizabeth Walker, which sank. Red Jacket rescued the other vessel's crew.
- 1854
Red Jacket enters White Star Line Australian service[1]
Other
After refitting in Liverpool, the ship was chartered for the immigrant route to Melbourne and became the first ship associated with the White Star Line.
- 1853
Red Jacket sets New York–Liverpool sailing record[1]
Other
The newly launched clipper completed the dock-to-dock passage in 13 days, 1 hour, and 25 minutes, making it one of the fastest sailing ships on the route.
Sources2 sources
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