SS President
Encyclopedia
SS President was a British passenger liner that was the largest ship in the world when she was commissioned in 1840, and the first steamship to founder on the transatlantic run when she was lost at sea with all 136 on board in March 1841.
The ship's owner, the British and American Steam Navigation Company
, collapsed as a result of the disappearance.
President was the second liner owned by British and American and was noted for her luxurious interiors. Designed by Macgregor Laird
and built by Curling and Young of London, she was fitted for 154 passengers. President was over 25% larger than the British Queen
, the previous holder of the size record, and over twice the size of Cunard’s
Britannia Class, the first three of which were also commissioned in 1840. This was accomplished by adding a third deck to the design of the British Queen. As a result, President was top heavy. She was also underpowered and had the slowest passage times of any transatlantic steamer up to that point. To avoid litigation, changes were made to her paddle wheels after her second round trip that further complicated her lack of power, especially in rough weather.
On March 11, 1841, President cleared New York bound for Liverpool on her third eastbound voyage. She was overloaded with cargo to compensate for her roll. President was last seen the next day struggling in a gale. Her disappearance was major news for several months and even Queen Victoria followed the story.
As designed by Macgregor Laird, President was 500 GRT larger than British Queen, then the largest ship. Her opulent interiors were in sharp contract to the sparse accommodations of Cunard’s fleet. Great American wanted passengers to feel they were in a luxury hotel rather than at sea. The saloon measured 80 feet by 34 feet and was in Tudor Gothic style. The corridor aft to the regular staterooms was a picture gallery, with ten oil paintings depicting scenes about Christopher Columbus. The regular staterooms could accommodate 110 passengers and another 44 forward in Servants cabins. The two berth regular cabins were seven feet by seven feet. Her exterior decoration included a figurehead of George Washington.
President’s wooden hull was subdivided into watertight compartments. However, it was not as robust as Great Western
or the new Cunard vessels just entering service. After just two round trip voyages, she required refit after stormy seas weakened and twisted her hull. President was top heavy and rolled excessively because she was constructed with a third deck on top of a hull with almost the same waterline dimensions as British Queen.
Relative to her size, President was significantly less powerful than her rivals. As a result, her 1840 times were disappointing. This problem was compounded in 1841 when President’s paddle wheels were modified with non-feathering paddles. Tests in 1830 demonstrated that feathering paddles improved speed by 25% in smooth water and over 50% in rough seas. British American failed to secure the rights to use the patented design and to avoid litigation removed the feathering paddles before President left on her first 1841 voyage.
with few passengers because both Great Western and Cunard’s Acadia sailed the previous week. Her return trip also averaged only 8.4 knots (16.5 km/h) as compared to Great Western’s eastbound record of 10.17 knots (19.9 km/h). President’s captain was blamed for the poor performance and replaced. However, her times were no better on her second round trip. Leaving New York
, President was only able to complete 300 miles in four days and returned to the Hudson to refuel. Upon arrival in Liverpool
, her December voyage was cancelled and she was refitted. Again her captain was replaced.
Departing Liverpool in February, President’s third westbound voyage to New York lasted 21 days. She sailed for her return voyage on March 11, 1841 with 136 passengers and crew along with an extensive cargo manifest. President encountered a gale and was seen on her second day out laboring in heavy seas in the dangerous area between Nantucket Shoals
and Georges Bank
. She was not seen again. Among the passengers was the Rev. George Grimston Cookman
, who had served as Chaplain of the Senate, and the popular comic Irish actor Tyrone Power (1795–1841), who was the ancestor of the film star of the same name. The late ship deathwatch stretched out for months. Queen Victoria asked that a special messenger be sent to her if there was news about the ship.
The ship's owner, the British and American Steam Navigation Company
British and American Steam Navigation Company
The British and American Steam Navigation Company was a pre-Cunard steamship line that operated a regular transatlantic service from 1839 to 1841. Before its first purpose-built Atlantic liner, the British Queen was completed, British and American chartered the Sirius for two voyages in 1838 to...
, collapsed as a result of the disappearance.
President was the second liner owned by British and American and was noted for her luxurious interiors. Designed by Macgregor Laird
Macgregor Laird
Macgregor Laird was a Scottish merchant pioneer of British trade on the River Niger.Laird was born at Greenock, the younger son of William Laird, founder of the Birkenhead firm of shipbuilders of that name...
and built by Curling and Young of London, she was fitted for 154 passengers. President was over 25% larger than the British Queen
SS British Queen
British Queen was a British passenger liner that was the second steamship completed for the transatlantic route when she was commissioned in 1839. She was named in honor of Queen Victoria and owned by the British and American Steam Navigation Company...
, the previous holder of the size record, and over twice the size of Cunard’s
Cunard Line
Cunard Line is a British-American owned shipping company based at Carnival House in Southampton, England and operated by Carnival UK. It has been a leading operator of passenger ships on the North Atlantic for over a century...
Britannia Class, the first three of which were also commissioned in 1840. This was accomplished by adding a third deck to the design of the British Queen. As a result, President was top heavy. She was also underpowered and had the slowest passage times of any transatlantic steamer up to that point. To avoid litigation, changes were made to her paddle wheels after her second round trip that further complicated her lack of power, especially in rough weather.
On March 11, 1841, President cleared New York bound for Liverpool on her third eastbound voyage. She was overloaded with cargo to compensate for her roll. President was last seen the next day struggling in a gale. Her disappearance was major news for several months and even Queen Victoria followed the story.
Development and design
British and American recognized from the beginning that frequent sailings were required and that the line needed a fleet of steamers for its new transatlantic service. As soon as the line’s first unit, British Queen was delivered, British and American ordered the President. The plan was that by 1840, either President or British Queen was to depart each month for New York.As designed by Macgregor Laird, President was 500 GRT larger than British Queen, then the largest ship. Her opulent interiors were in sharp contract to the sparse accommodations of Cunard’s fleet. Great American wanted passengers to feel they were in a luxury hotel rather than at sea. The saloon measured 80 feet by 34 feet and was in Tudor Gothic style. The corridor aft to the regular staterooms was a picture gallery, with ten oil paintings depicting scenes about Christopher Columbus. The regular staterooms could accommodate 110 passengers and another 44 forward in Servants cabins. The two berth regular cabins were seven feet by seven feet. Her exterior decoration included a figurehead of George Washington.
President’s wooden hull was subdivided into watertight compartments. However, it was not as robust as Great Western
SS Great Western
SS Great Western of 1838, was an oak-hulled paddle-wheel steamship; the first purpose-built for crossing the Atlantic and the initial unit of the Great Western Steamship Company. Designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Great Western proved satisfactory in service and was the model for all successful...
or the new Cunard vessels just entering service. After just two round trip voyages, she required refit after stormy seas weakened and twisted her hull. President was top heavy and rolled excessively because she was constructed with a third deck on top of a hull with almost the same waterline dimensions as British Queen.
Relative to her size, President was significantly less powerful than her rivals. As a result, her 1840 times were disappointing. This problem was compounded in 1841 when President’s paddle wheels were modified with non-feathering paddles. Tests in 1830 demonstrated that feathering paddles improved speed by 25% in smooth water and over 50% in rough seas. British American failed to secure the rights to use the patented design and to avoid litigation removed the feathering paddles before President left on her first 1841 voyage.
Service history
President’s maiden voyage in August 1840 lasted 16.5 days and averaged only 8.4 knots (16.5 km/h) as compared to the then record of 9.52 knots (18.7 km/h) posted by Great Western. President left the MerseyLiverpool Bay
Liverpool Bay is a bay of the Irish Sea between northeast Wales, Cheshire, Lancashire and Merseyside to the east of the Irish Sea. The bay is a classic example of a region of freshwater influence...
with few passengers because both Great Western and Cunard’s Acadia sailed the previous week. Her return trip also averaged only 8.4 knots (16.5 km/h) as compared to Great Western’s eastbound record of 10.17 knots (19.9 km/h). President’s captain was blamed for the poor performance and replaced. However, her times were no better on her second round trip. Leaving New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, President was only able to complete 300 miles in four days and returned to the Hudson to refuel. Upon arrival in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, her December voyage was cancelled and she was refitted. Again her captain was replaced.
Departing Liverpool in February, President’s third westbound voyage to New York lasted 21 days. She sailed for her return voyage on March 11, 1841 with 136 passengers and crew along with an extensive cargo manifest. President encountered a gale and was seen on her second day out laboring in heavy seas in the dangerous area between Nantucket Shoals
Nantucket Shoals
Nantucket Shoals is an area of dangerously shallow water in the Atlantic Ocean that extends from Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, eastward for and southeastward for ; in places water depth can be as shallow as . Depth soundings are unpredictable due to constant change from strong currents. The...
and Georges Bank
Georges Bank
Georges Bank is a large elevated area of the sea floor which separates the Gulf of Maine from the Atlantic Ocean and is situated between Cape Cod, Massachusetts and Cape Sable Island, Nova Scotia ....
. She was not seen again. Among the passengers was the Rev. George Grimston Cookman
George Grimston Cookman
George Grimston Cookman was a Methodist clergyman who served as Chaplain of the Senate.George Grimston Cookman was born in Kingston-on-Hull, Yorkshire, England, on October 21, 1801, to George and Mary Cookman. He joined a Methodist society in 1820 and in 1821 he visited the United States for the...
, who had served as Chaplain of the Senate, and the popular comic Irish actor Tyrone Power (1795–1841), who was the ancestor of the film star of the same name. The late ship deathwatch stretched out for months. Queen Victoria asked that a special messenger be sent to her if there was news about the ship.