Tayleur

Categories: Shipwrecks | Clippers | Tall ships of the United Kingdom | Sailboat Names

The RMS Tayleur was a fully-rigged iron clipper chartered by the White Star Line and her fate would be a black mark on that company for years to come.

Built at Warrington in 1853 and launched 4 October, the Tayleur displaced 1,750 tons and was the largest ship ever built at Warrington. Tayleur was 230 feet in length with a 40 foot beam). 4,000 tons of cargo was carried in holds 28 feet deep below three decks.

Tayleur left Liverpool on 19 January 1854 for Melbourne, Australia, with a compliment of 652 passengers and crew. On her maiden voyage, Tayleur's compasses were disrupted by her iron hull and she was diverted, from her course through the Irish Sea, toward Ireland.

Tayleur's rudder was undersized for her tonnage, her rigging was faulty and despite dropping both anchors Tayleur ran aground on rocks off the east coast of Lambay Island about five miles from Dublin Bay on 21 January 1854. Tayleur sank after being washed into deeper water, claiming 380 souls.

External links

• http://eraoftheclipperships.com/maritimebookreview5.html
• http://www.mightyseas.co.uk/articles/tayleur.htm
• http://www.angelfire.com/ab7/issmemorials/Memorials/Eire/TayleurPortrane/tayleur.htm
• http://www.mersey-gateway.org/server.php?show=ConNarrative.88
• http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/encyclopedia/t/ta/tayleur.htm

References

Ed Bourke Bound for Australia - The loss of the emigrant ship Tayleur, A detailed look at the loss of the full rigged clipper "Tayleur" off Lambay Island. ISBN: 095230273X