Wreck of RMS Tayleur off Ireland on her maiden voyage, 1854 (1854)

The iron clipper RMS Tayleur, chartered by the White Star Line, departed Liverpool on 19 January 1854 for Australia. Within 48 hours, she encountered fog and storm, striking rocks off Lambay Island on 21 January. The ship sank, resulting in significant loss of life, with only 290 of the 650 people on board surviving.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. RMS Tayleur was a full-rigged iron clipper ship chartered by the White Star Line. Launched in Warrington in October 1853, her maiden voyage was delayed by two months due to her large size. She departed Liverpool on 19 January 1854, bound for Australia, carrying 627 passengers and 25 crew. The ship proved difficult to handle, and its crew was inexperienced.

Wreck. Within 48 hours of sailing, Tayleur found herself in a fog and a storm, heading straight for Lambay Island. On 21 January 1854, she struck the island's rocks in very rough seas and sank. Of the 650 people on board, only 290 survived, meaning the great majority of those aboard were lost.

Aftermath. Following the wreck, a lifeboat drifted out into the Irish Sea and was eventually found in 1856. George Finlay, the chief boatman, was awarded an RNLI silver medal on 2 March 1854 for his role in the rescue efforts.

People involved

Sources

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