The ship ran aground on the Washerwoman Shoal. She was on a voyage from Island Harbor to Key West, Florida. She was refloated and taken in to Key West.[5]
The ship ran aground on the Pyramid Shoals, in the Strait of Malacca and was wrecked. Some of her crew were rescued by the paddle steamer (United Kingdom). The remainder were subsequently rescued by (Royal Navy). Charles Forbes was on a voyage from Bombay, India to China.[8][9][10][11]
Felton Park
United Kingdom
The ship ran aground on the Little Burbo Bank, in Liverpool Bay. She was on a voyage from Constantinople, Ottoman Empire to Liverpool, Lancashire. She was refloated and completed her voyage.[12][13]
Friendship
United Kingdom
The ship sprang a leak and was abandoned off the Farne Islands, Northumberland. She was on a voyage from Arbroath, Forfarshire to Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland. She was subsequently taken in to North Sunderland, County Durham.[14]
United Kingdom
The steamship struck rocks and sank off Crail, Fife with the loss of two lives.[6]
Marsden
United Kingdom
The ship sank in the North Sea off Saltfleet, Lincolnshire. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Newcastle upon Tyne to Maldon, Essex.[14]
Webster
United States
The steamboat was destroyed by fire in the Mississippi River upstream of Vicksburg, Mississippi with the loss of 40 of the 100 people on board.[15][16]
3 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 3 May 1851
Ship
Country
Description
Isabella and Jane
United Kingdom
The ship was driven ashore 50 nautical miles (93 km) north of Bayonne, Basses-Pyrénées, France.[17]
Jacques
British North America
The brig was driven ashore on Janvrin Island, Nova Scotia. She was on a voyage from Havana, Cuba to Montreal and/or Quebec City, Province of Canada. She was refloated and resumed her voyage.[18][19]
Vesta
Russia
The barque was driven ashore and damaged at Cardiff, Glamorgan, United Kingdom.[20] She was on a voyage from Cardiff to Naples, Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.[21] She was refloated on 22 May and taken in to Bristol, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom for repairs.[22]
4 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 4 May 1851
Ship
Country
Description
Chance
Jersey
The ship was discovered abandoned in the Gulf of St Lawrence by Thomas Henry (). A skeleton crew was put aboard and she was taken in to Quebec City, Province of Canada, British North America.[23]
Fife
United Kingdom
The ship was in collision with a foreign brig and foundered in the English Channel 20 nautical miles (37 km) off Beachy Head, Sussex. Her crew were rescued by a Bermudan brig. She was on a voyage from Exeter, Devon to Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland.[6][24]
Josephine
Norway
The barque was driven ashore near Sunderland, County Durham, United Kingdom.[6]
Penrhyn Castle
United Kingdom
The flat was driven ashore and wrecked at Great Orme Head, Caernarfonshire. Her crew were rescued.[25]
Phoenix
Russia
The ship was driven ashore near the . She was on a voyage from Messina, Sicily to Saint Petersburg.[26]
Sophie
Stettin
The ship was driven ashore east of Burnham Overy Staithe, Norfolk, United Kingdom.[14] She was refloated on 13 May and taken in to Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk.[27]
Totness
United Kingdom
The schooner was sunk by ice in the Atlantic Ocean. Her crew were rescued on 15 May, but six passengers were left on the ice. She was on a voyage from Plymouth, Devon to St. Anthony, Newfoundland.[28]
Zieper Zaritza
Peru
The ship was driven ashore at Wexford, United Kingdom. She was on a voyage from Peru to Liverpool, Lancashire, United Kingdom.[14] She was refloated on 7 May.[29]
5 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 5 May 1851
Ship
Country
Description
Amber
British North America
The ship was wrecked in the Gut of Canso. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Prince Edward Island to Halifax, Nova Scotia.[18]
Ellen
United Kingdom
The ship ran aground on the North Bank, in the Irish Sea off the coast of Lancashire. She was on a voyage from Glasgow, Renfrewshire to Liverpool, Lancashire.[6]
Fife
United Kingdom
The schooner was in collision with a brig and sank in the English Channel 17 nautical miles (32 km) off Beachy Head, Sussex. Her six crew took to the jolly boat and were later rescued by the brig James (Bermuda). Fife was on a voyage from Seaton, Devon to Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland.[30][31]
Peerless
United Kingdom
The ship was driven ashore at Alicante, Spain. She was on a voyage from Saint John's, Newfoundland, British North America to Cádiz and Alicante. She was refloated.[32]
Sun
United Kingdom
The ship ran aground on the Race Horse Bank, off the coast of Massachusetts, United States. She was on a voyage from Sunderland, County Durham to Boston, Massachusetts. She was refloated and taken in to Boston in a leaky condition.[33]
The paddle steamer broke in two and sank 60 nautical miles (110 km) off Kurrachee with the loss of a crew member. Survivors were rescued by the paddle steamer Berenice (India). Falkland was on a voyage from Bombay to Kurrachee.[34][35]
Hoop
Netherlands
The ship was wrecked on Anegada, Virgin Islands. She was on a voyage from Rotterdam, South Holland to Puerto Rico.[36]
Island Maid
United Kingdom
The ship was struck the Coal Rock, off the coast of Anglesey. She was on a voyage from Newport, Monmouthshire to Liverpool, Lancashire. She consequently put in to Amlwch, Anglesey.[20]
The ship foundered in the North Sea with the loss of three of her four crew. She was on a voyage from Hamburg to Hull, Yorkshire, United Kingdom.[20]
Sophia
United Kingdom
The ship was blown out to sea from Madras, India. No further trace, presumed foundered with the loss of all hands.[38]
7 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 7 May 1851
Ship
Country
Description
Sarah Ann
United States
The ship was driven ashore near "Westfleet". She was on a voyage from La Rochelle, Charente-Maritime to Boston, Massachusetts. She was refloated on 9 May and taken in to Boston.[18]
Susanna
Hamburg
The ship sank off Ameland, Friesland, Netherlands. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Hamburg to Harlingen, Friesland.[27]
The ship ran aground on the Brouwers Shoal, off the coast of Sumatra, Netherlands East Indies. She was on a voyage from Hong Kong to London. She was refloated on 12 May and was towed in to Batavia, Netherlands East Indies on 14 May.[39][9]
Jubilee
United Kingdom
The ship was in collision with Elizabeth (United Kingdom) in the North Sea and foundered. Her crew were rescued by Margaret and Jane (United Kingdom). Jubilee was on a voyage from London to Seaham, County Durham.[40]
Jupiter
Grand Duchy of Finland
The ship was driven ashore 20 nautical miles (37 km) west of Málaga, Spain. She was on a voyage from Alexandria, Egypt to Liverpool, Lancashire, United Kingdom.[41][2]
9 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 9 Maly 1851
Ship
Country
Description
Jolly Tar
United Kingdom
The ship was wrecked on the Pamper Rock, in Bantry Bay with some loss of life.[41][42]
Maria Louisa
Prussia
The brig foundered. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Livorno, Grand Duchy of Tuscany to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.[43][44]
Wyke Regis
United Kingdom
The brig ran aground at Wilmington, North Carolina, United States. She was on a voyage from Cardiff, Glamorgan to Wilmington.[45]
10 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 10 May 1851
Ship
Country
Description
Broomielaw
United Kingdom
The ship was driven ashore at Garvan Point, County Antrim. She was on a voyage from Sligo to Newry, County Antrim.[27]
Charles
United Kingdom
The schooner was driven ashore at Leba, Prussia. She was refloated and taken in to Leba.[46][47]
Lucile
France
The ship was lost off Alderney, Channel Islands. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Morlaix, Finistère to Harfleur, Seine-Inférieure.[46]
The ship ran aground in the Douro. She was refloated and taken in to Oporto, Portugal.[18]
Scindian
United Kingdom
The ship ran aground on the Dean Sand, in the Solent. she was on a voyage from London to Saint Helena. She was refloated and taken in to Portsmouth, Hampshire.[49]
13 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 13 May 1851
Ship
Country
Description
Ariel
United Kingdom
The clipper was destroyed by fire off the mouth of the Hooghly River.[1]
Star
United Kingdom
The schooner was wrecked on the Goodwin Sands, Kent. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland to Plymouth, Devon.[17][50]
The steamship collided with the paddle steamerNimrod (United Kingdom) in the River Mersey and was severely damaged. She was taken into the Prince's Dock, Liverpool, Lancashire, United Kingdom, where she sank. All on board survived.[51][47] She was on a voyage from Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France to Liverpool.[52]
Hector
Kingdom of Hanover
The sealer was sunk by ice off the coast of Greenland. Her crew were rescued.[53]
The brig ran aground on the Scroby Sands, Norfolk. She was on a voyage from Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland to Exeter, Devon. She was refloated and taken in to Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.[33]
Flora
United Kingdom
The ship was driven ashore and capsized at Bridlington, Yorkshire. She was on a voyage from Seaham, County Durham to Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire. She was righted the next day and beached before being refloated and taken in to Bridlington.[33]
The brig was driven ashore at Bridlington. She was on a voyage from Sunderland, County Durham to London. She was refloated and resumed her voyage.[33]
17 May[]
For the loss of Heather Bell on this date, see List of shipwrecks in September 1850 § 19 September.
List of shipwrecks: 17 May 1851
Ship
Country
Description
Falcon
British North America
The steamship ran aground and sank on the Narrow Isle de Byro. All on board survived. She was on a voyage from St John's, Newfoundland to Halifax, Nova Scotia.[62][5]
New Bedford
United States
The 351-ton whaling ship was wrecked in the Fox Islands near Umnak Island in the Aleutian Islands. Four members of her crew were lost while landing. Her remaining crew members were rescued by the ship Minerva Smyth (United States) on 30 May after rowing 40 nautical miles (74 km; 46 mi).[63][64]
Seringapatam
United Kingdom
The ship was driven ashore at Portland, Dorset. She was on a voyage from Sydney, New South Wales to London. She was refloated.[41]
Velocipede
United Kingdom
The brig was wrecked on or near Pratas Island. She was on a voyage from Singapore to Shanghai, China. Nine of her 31 crew reached Hong Kong in a boat. The rest were subsequently rescued by (Royal Navy).[65][66][67]
18 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 18 May 1851
Ship
Country
Description
Bon Henri
France
The ship foundered in the Atlantic Ocean. Six crew were rescued on 31 May by Caroline Schenks (Flag unknown). Bon Henri was on a voyage from Patagonia, Argentina to Mauritius.[43]
Flora
France
The schooner was driven ashore at Flamborough Head, Yorkshire, United Kingdom and was abandoned by her crew. She was later refloated and taken in to Bridlington, Yorkshire in a derelict condition.[41]
Wheatburn
United Kingdom
The brig was driven ashore at Flamborough Head. She was refloated and resumed her voyage.[41]
19 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 19 May 1851
Ship
Country
Description
Calcutta
United States
The ship struck a sunken rock in the Strait of Gibraltar. She was on a voyage from Trieste to New York. She consequently put in to Gibraltar in a leaky condition.[18]
Dolphin
Netherlands
The ship ran aground on the Pan Shoal. She was on a voyage from Batavia, Netherlands East Indies to Singapore. She was refloated and completed her voyage, arriving on 22 May.[9]
Fortunio
United States
The ship was wrecked on a reef at "Waketo Oahec". She was on a voyage from Sydney, New South Wales to San Francisco, California.[68]
Spray
United Kingdom
The brig ran aground on the Barber Sand, in the North Sea off the coast of Norfolk.[69] She wason a voyage from Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland to London. She was refloated the next day and resumed her voyage.[33]
20 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 20 May 1851
Ship
Country
Description
Catherine
New South Wales
The cutter was lost in the "Morurga River". Her crew were rescued.[54]
21 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 21 May 1851
Ship
Country
Description
Bernard
United Kingdom
The ship capsized in the North Sea. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland to Hamburg.[18]
The brig was driven ashore at Nantucket, Massachusetts, United States. She was on a voyage from New York, United States to Saint John, New Brunswick, British North America.[72] She was refloated on 26 May and taken in to Nantucket the next day.[73]
Deslands
New South Wales
The ship ran aground at Geelong, South Australia. She was on a voyage from Sydney to Geelong. She was refloated the next day and taken in to Geelong.[9]
Zealous
British North America
The ship was driven ashore in the Magdalen Islands, Nova Scotia.[74]
25 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 25 May 1851
Ship
Country
Description
Orient
New South Wales
The schooner ran aground and was damaged at Melbourne. She was on a voyage from Sydney to the Manning River.She was refloated and taken in to Melbourne for repairs.[54]
Princess Royal
United Kingdom
The ship ran aground at Appledore, Devon. She was on a voyage from Liverpool, Lancashire to Bremen. She was refloated and taken in to Appledore.[45]
26 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 26 May 1851
Ship
Country
Description
Admiral Bingham
United Kingdom
The ship ran aground and sank on the Felsand. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Hartlepool, County Durham to Cronstadt, Russia.[75]
27 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 27 May 1851
Ship
Country
Description
Courrier de Brest
France
The ship was driven ashore and sank near "Pierre Porcée". Her crew were rescued.[23]
28 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 28 May 1851
Ship
Country
Description
Fashion
British North America
The ship was wrecked on Punto Mila, Cuba. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Martinique to Matanzas, Cuba.[53]
Oscar
United Kingdom
The ship ran aground off Dieppe, Seine-Inférieure, France and was damaged. She was refloated.[76]
29 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 29 May 1851
Ship
Country
Description
Glide
United Kingdom
The ship was wrecked between Adra and Roquetas, Spain. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland to Galaţi, Ottoman Empire.[77]
The brig was wrecked on the Cockburn Reef, in the Torres Strait. Her crew were rescued.[79] She was on a voyage from Sydney to Booby Island.[80]
31 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 31 May 1851
Ship
Country
Description
Brothers
British North America
The ship was wrecked on Marie Joseph Island. She was on a voyage from Pictou to Halifax, Nova Scotia.[81]
Castor
United Kingdom
The ship was driven ashore and wrecked at Memel, Prussia. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Malmö, Sweden to Memel.[72]
Fidelity
United Kingdom
The ship ran aground in the Victoria Channel. She was on a voyage from Liverpool, Lancashire to Drogheda, County Louth.[23]
George Buckham
United Kingdom
The ship was wrecked on a reef in the Pacific Ocean. Duke of Roxburgh (United Kingdom) rescued her crew. George Buckham was on a voyage from Sydney, New South Wales to Hong Kong.[82]
The 8-gun screw sloop was wrecked on or near Pratas Island whilst going to the aid of Velocipede (United Kingdom). Her crew were rescued by (Royal Navy).
Savannah
United States
The ship was destroyed by fire at Tyler, Texas. Her crew survived.[28]
Snowdrop
United Kingdom
The ship ran aground on the Long Nose, off the north Kent coast. She was on a voyage from Youghal, County Cork to London. she was refloated on 15 June and taken in to Whitstable, Kent.[3]
Unknown date[]
List of shipwrecks: Unknown date in May 1851
Ship
Country
Description
Adolphe Eugene
United Kingdom
The ship was driven ashore and wrecked near "Chassiron". She was on a voyage from Bordeaux, Gironde to Nantes, Loire-Inférieure.[12]
Alice Haviland
United Kingdom
The ship ran ashore near Stavanger, Norway before 10 May. She was on a voyage from the Clyde to Saint Petersburg, Russia. She was refloated and resumed her voyage.[41]
United States
Heavy rains caused an earthen dam across the outlet to Geneva Lake in Wisconsin to break, resulting in a surge of water through the lake which swept the three-mastedschooner several miles downstream. She suffered so much damage that she was abandoned in place and left to rot.[83]
Britannia
United Kingdom
The brig was abandoned in the Atlantic Ocean before 17 May.[84]
Dorothy
United Kingdom
The ship severely damaged at Saint-Valery-sur-Somme, Somme, France before 20 May. She was declared a total loss.[22]
The ship was abandoned in the Atlantic Ocean before 16 May.[73]
Friendship
United Kingdom
The barque foundered in the Atlantic Ocean. Her crew were rescued by Dove (United Kingdom). Friendship was on a voyage from London to Valparaíso, Chile.[36]
The 95-foot (29 m) trading schooner sank at the mouth of the Milwaukee River at Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She was refloated, repaired, and returned to service.[85]
George Horne
United Kingdom
The ship foundered 200 nautical miles (370 km) west of Kangaroo Island, South Australia before 2 May. Her crew survived. She was on a voyage from Adelaide, South Australia to Swansea, Glamorgan.[86]
Grace Darling
United Kingdom
The ship ran ashore near Stavanger before 10 May. She was on a voyage from Liverpool, Lancashire to Pillau, Prussia.[41]
Hero
United Kingdom
The ship was wrecked on the Suadava Atoll. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Liverpool to Calcutta, India.[9]
The ship foundered in the Atlantic Ocean before 29 May.[87]
John Whiteley
United Kingdom
The ship was wrecked on a reef near "Plymouth" before 10 May. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Auckland, New Zealand to Sydney, New South Wales.[88]
Joseph Yeoward
United Kingdom
The ship foundered with the loss of two of her crew. Survivors were rescued on 26 May by Champion (United Kingdom). Joseph Yeoward was on a voyage from Callao, Peru to Liverpool.[89]
Plenty
United Kingdom
The ship was driven ashore on the coast of Sweden before 14 May. She was on a voyage from Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland to Cronstadt, Russia. She was refloated and resumed her voyage.[33]