Wreck of the Royal Charter off Anglesey

Background. Royal Charter was a steam clipper returning to Liverpool from Melbourne in late October 1859. The ship encountered severe weather conditions that escalated into what became known as the Royal Charter Storm. On the north coast of Anglesey, winds rose to gale force and subsequently hurricane strength, preventing the ship from picking up a pilot off Point Lynas.

The Wreck. In the early hours of 26 October 1859, the Royal Charter was driven ashore on the east coast of Anglesey, just north of Moelfre. The ship was smashed to pieces against the rocks at Porth Helaeth in Dulas Bay on the northeast coast of Anglesey. The storm had hit Anglesey around 8 p.m. the previous evening and reached maximum force at the River Mersey around midday on 26 October.

Casualties. Over 450 lives were lost in the disaster, marking the highest death toll of any shipwreck on the Welsh coast. The precise number of dead is uncertain because the complete passenger list was lost in the wreck. An incomplete list, excluding those who boarded just before departure, is retained in the Victorian Archives Centre in Victoria, Australia.