The Tonquin sets sail from New York Harbor (1810–1811)

The merchant ship Tonquin departed New York Harbor on 8 September 1810, bound for the Columbia River. Purchased by John Jacob Astor and operated by his Pacific Fur Company, the vessel sailed south through the Atlantic on the voyage that would carry the Astor expedition toward the Pacific Northwest.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. Tonquin was a 290-ton American merchant ship initially operated by Fanning & Coles. It was sold to John Jacob Astor on 23 August 1810 for $37,860. The ship became part of the Pacific Fur Company, a subsidiary of Astor's American Fur Company, established to conduct trade in the Pacific Northwest.

Voyage. The ship departed New York Harbor on 8 September 1810, heading south through the Atlantic Ocean. The route included passing Cape Horn into the Pacific Ocean. The vessel visited the Kingdom of Hawaii in February 1811 to restock and hire crew members before continuing to the Columbia River.

Arrival. Tonquin reached the Columbia River on 22 March 1811. The dangerous bar at the river's mouth posed significant challenges. Construction of Fort Astoria, the trading post founded by the ship, began in May 1811 on the present-day Oregon coast.

People involved

Sources

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