ROCKLAND, Maine — The Rockland Historical Society will launch its history of the clipper ship Red Jacket, by author Stephen Hopkins, at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Sail Power and Steam Museum.
Red Jacket was the most famous ship ever constructed in Rockland, according to the historical society’s news release. Built by Deacon George Thomas at his shipyard at the foot of Warren Street in the North End, the Red Jacket was launched on Nov. 2, 1853.
On its maiden voyage, the ship crossed the Atlantic, from New York to Liverpool, in 13 days, one hour and 25 minutes, a record that has never been equaled by a large sailing vessel.
John Pilkington and Henry Wilson of Liverpool purchased Red Jacket for their White Star Line of packet ships carrying emigrants to Melbourne during the Australian Gold Rush. Red Jacket carried thousands of people from England to Australia and followed other commercial routes until the 1870s when it hauled lumber from Canada to England. Finally, Red Jacket became a coal hulk in Funchal Harbor, Madeira, a Portuguese archipelago off the northwestern coast of Africa.
It sank in December 1885, 11 months after Thomas died.
Hopkins is a great-great-nephew of Thomas and spent more than 30 years researching the history of his ancestor’s ship. Hopkins studied shipbuilding as clerk of the works for the South Street Seaport in New York, and he wrote to maritime museums around the world to produce “Red Jacket: The Life and Times of a Maine Clipper Ship.” He has donated his extensive research collection and his authentic model of Red Jacket to the Rockland Historical Society. Members of the Rockland Historical Society worked on editing and illustrating the work, which covers all aspects of Red Jacket’s life in detail.
Hopkins will be present to sign books at 4 p.m. at the Sail Power and Steam Museum at 75 Mechanic St. Copies then will be available at the Rockland Historical Society, located in the lower level of the Rockland Public Library and open noon to 5 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays or by calling 594-6193.