The schooner was wrecked at Port Elliott with the loss of all three crew. She was on a voyage from Port Elliott to Port Adelaide.[1]
United Kingdom
The steamship was wrecked on rocks off Turnabout Island with the loss of 31 of her crew. She was on a voyage from Shanghai to Hong Kong.[2][3]
Liverpool Packet
United Kingdom
The ship was in collision with Bijou (United Kingdom) and foundered off Holyhead, Anglesey. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Barrow in Furness, Lancashire to Cardiff, Glamorgan.[4]
Rob the Ranter
United Kingdom
The ship was driven ashore and damaged at Galway. She was refloated.[4]
The brig ran aground on the , Norfolk. She was on a voyage from Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland to London. She was refloated and resumed her voyage.[6]
Elisha Denison
United States
The ship was wrecked at Galveston, Texas. She was on a voyage from New Orleans, Louisiana to Havre de Grâce, Seine-Inférieure, France.[7]
Elizabeth
United Kingdom
The pilotskiff was wrecked on Flat Holm, in the Bristol Channel. Her crew were rescued.[8]
Hoffnung
Prussia
The ship was driven ashore whilst on a voyage from Dantsic to Queenstown, County Cork, United Kingdom. She was refloated and put in to Ystad, Sweden in a leaky condition.[9]
Jean and Mary
United Kingdom
The brig struck sunken rocks off Sheringham, Norfolk and was consequently beached at Cromer, Norfolk, where she was wrecked. She was on a voyage from Newcastle upon Tyne to Dordrecht, South Holland, Netherlands.[10][11][6]
United States
The schooner was run down by ship "Sarah Jane" off Cape Cod. Crew saved.[12]
3 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 3 May 1853
Ship
Country
Description
Mary and Ellen
United Kingdom
The ship ran aground on the Cross Sand, in the North Sea off the coast of Suffolk. She was refloated and assisted in to Lowestoft, Suffolk in a leaky condition.[6]
The ship was driven ashore and wrecked near Amlwch, Anglesey.[10]
Thomas
United Kingdom
The ship was driven ashore at Fast Castle Head, Lothian. Her crew were rescued.[10] She was on a voyage from Arbroath, Forfarshire to Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland.[11]
William and Mary
United States
The barque was wrecked on the Stirrup Key, Bahamas with the reported loss of about 170 lives. She was on a voyage from Liverpool, Lancashire, United Kingdom to New Orleans, Louisiana. Survivors were rescued by the brigReuben Carver (United States) and the barque Pollock (United Kingdom).[14][15][16][17] Also reported that all but two passengers had been rescued by the schoonerOracle (Bahamas).[18][19]
The ship was driven ashore and wrecked at Flamborough Head, Yorkshire. She was on a voyage from Saint-Valery-sur-Somme, Somme, France to Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland.[10]
Lady Berridale
United Kingdom
The steamship was in collision with Jean and Mary (United Kingdom) and sank at Lowestoft, Suffolk,[6] or Sunderland, County Durham.[9]
Roscoe
United Kingdom
The ship was driven ashore and severely damaged at Sunderland, County Durham. She was on a voyage from London to Sunderland.[11]
Sharon's Rose
United Kingdom
The sloop ran aground on the Haisborough Sands, in the North Sea off the coast of Norfolk and sank. Her crew took to a boat and were rescued by William and Ann (United Kingdom). Sharon's Rose was on a voyage from Newcastle upon Tyne to London.[13]
5 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 5 May 1853
Ship
Country
Description
Barbara Gordon
South Australia
The barque was wrecked 20 nautical miles (37 km) west of Cape Agulhas, Cape Colony with the loss of all six passengers. She was on a voyage from Port Adelaide to London.[22]
Moldavia
Ottoman Empire
The ship was driven ashore at Dublin, United Kingdom.[23]
The brig was driven ashore and wrecked at The Lizard, Cornwall, United Kingdom. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Odessa to Bridgwater, Somerset, United Kingdom.[23][24][13]
Sarah S.
British North America
The brig foundered in the Atlantic Ocean. All on board were rescued by the barqueDurango (United Kingdom). Sarah S. was on a voyage from the Clyde to New York, United States.[25][26]
The patrol vessel was rammed and severely damaged in Lake Huron by Buffalo ( Pirates) and was severely damaged. Buffalo was captured. USS Michigan was repaired and returned to service.
7 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 7 May 1853
Ship
Country
Description
Active
United Kingdom
The ship struck a sunken wreck and sank off Cardiff, Glamorgan. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Newport, Monmouthshire to Plymouth, Devon.[13]
Southampton
United Kingdom
The sailing barge was run down and sunk in the River Thames by the steamshipTrident (United Kingdom). Southampton was on a voyage from Crayford, Kent to Pimlico, City of Westminster.[27]
8 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 8 May 1853
Ship
Country
Description
Francesca
United Kingdom
The brig foundered in the Atlantic Ocean. Her crew were rescued by the brig Irene (Sweden). Francesca was on a voyage from Saint Vincent to Australia.[28][29][30]
Madonna delle Grazie
Kingdom of the Two Sicilies
The brig was wrecked on the Paganetto Flats with the loss of three of her crew. She was on a voyage from Naples to Hull, Yorkshire, United Kingdom.[31]
9 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 9 May 1853
Ship
Country
Description
Balmira
Portugal
The schooner was in collision with Star of the West (United Kingdom) and sank in the Irish Sea off Holyhead, Anglesey, United Kingdom with the loss of two of her crew. She was on a voyage from São Miguel Island, Azores to Liverpool, Lancashire, United Kingdom.[32]
Bretagne
United Kingdom
The ship ran aground at Saint-Nazaire, Loire-Inférieure and was damaged. She was on a voyage from London, United Kingdom to Saint-Nazaire.[33]
Louise
Belgium
The barque ran aground on the Goodwin Sands, Kent, United Kingdom. She was refloated and resumed her voyage.[34]
Margaret
United Kingdom
The brig ran aground in Carlington Bay. She was on a voyage from Drogheda, County Louth to Workington, Cumberland. She was refloated and taken in to Greencastle, County Down.[35]
Matanzas
United Kingdom
The ship ran aground at Bahia, Brazil. She was on a voyage from Rio de Janeiro to Bahia. She was refloated and taken in to Bahia.[36]
Palmira
Portugal
The schooner was in collision with Star of the West (United Kingdom) and sank off Holyhead, Anglesey, United Kingdom with the loss of two of her crew. She was on a voyage from São Miguel Island, Azores to Liverpool, Lancashire, United States.[37]
10 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 10 May 1853
Ship
Country
Description
Adam Clark
United Kingdom
The ship was in collision with Blanche (United Kingdom) and sank in the North Sea off Flamborough Head, Yorkshire. Her crew were rescued by Blanche.[37]
Fadrens Minde
Grand Duchy of Finland
The ship ran aground on the Lapsand, in the Baltic Sea. She was on a voyage from Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, United Kingdom to Turku. She was refloated.[20]
Superior
United Kingdom
The sloop ran aground on Scroby Sands, Norfolk. She was abandoned the next day. She was on a voyage from Woodbridge, Suffolk to Goole, Yorkshire.[33][38]
Supply
United Kingdom
The ship was driven ashore at Helsingør, Denmark. She was on a voyage from Liverpool, Lancashire to Cronstadt, Russia. She was refloated and resumed her voyage.[39]
11 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 11 May 1853
Ship
Country
Description
Adam Clark
United Kingdom
The brig was in collision with another vessel and was abandoned by her crew. She subsequently came ashore on the Holderness coast of Yorkshihre.[13]
12 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 12 May 1853
Ship
Country
Description
Elizabeth and Sarah
United Kingdom
The barque ran aground near Dragør, Denmark. She was on a voyage from Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland to Cronstadt, Russia. She was refloated and resumed her voyage.[40]
Horatio
Flag unknown
The ship was wrecked on the Goodwin Sands, Kent, United Kingdom. She was on a voyage from Odessa to Bremen.[41]
The ship ran aground on the Monkstone. She was on a voyage from Newport, Monmouthshire to cork. She was refloated and towed in to the River Taff in a sinking condition.[42]
Vigilant
United Kingdom
The ship was driven ashore at Douglas, Isle of Man. She was on a voyage from Port Madoc, Caernarfonshire to Aberdeen.[9]
William and Mary
United Kingdom
The schooner collided with the sloopLily and foundered in the North Sea off Lowestoft, Suffolk with the loss of two of her four crew.[43] One of the survivors was rescued by Glenmoriston (United Kingdom).[44]
13 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 13 May 1853
Ship
Country
Description
Bogida
Norway
The ship ran aground and was damaged. She was on a voyage from Folkestone, Kent, United Kingdom to Porsgrunn.[33] She was refloated and put in to Dover, Kent in a leaky condition.[9]
Friends
United Kingdom
The ship sprang a leak and foundered in the Solent off the Hurst Spit. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Fareham, Hampshire to Yarmouth, Isle of Wight.[45][38]
Providence
United Kingdom
The schooner collided with the schooner Gem (United Kingdom) and foundered in the North Sea off the north coast of Norfolk. Her crew were rescued by Gem. Providence was on a voyage from Hartlepool, County Durham to London.[46][38]
William and Mary
United Kingdom
The schooner was in collision with the sloopLily (United Kingdom) and foundered in the North Sea off the coast of Suffolk. One of her crew was rescued by Lily, the rest were presumed to have drowned.[46][38]
14 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 14 May 1853
Ship
Country
Description
Caledonia
United Kingdom
The ship ran aground on Nickman's Grounds, in the Baltic Sea. She was on a voyage from Hartlepool, County Durham to Cronstadt, Russia. She was refloated and taken in to Cronstadt in a leaky condition.[40]
Mary Ellen
British North America
The ship collided with Mermaid (United States) and was abandoned. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from to Saint John, New Brunswick. Mary Ellen was subsequently towed in to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.[16]
15 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 15 May 1853
Ship
Country
Description
Anna Geza
Hamburg
The galiot ran aground on the Gunfleet Sand, in the North Sea off the coast of Essex, United Kingdom. She was refloated with assistance from the smacksAgenoria, Celerity and Rumney (all United Kingdom) and taken in tow, but consequently capsized and sank in the Rolling Grounds. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Blankenese Hoyer to Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex, United Kingdom.[47][20][48]
Chusan
United Kingdom
The ship sprang a leak and was abandoned 200 nautical miles (370 km) north of Cape Frio, Brazil. Ten of her sixteen crew reached land, the rest were rescued by Sophia (United Kingdom). Chusan was on a voyage from Sunderland, County Durham to California, United States.[49][50][51]
Le Jeune Louis
France
The lugger ran aground on the Long Bank, in the Irish Sea. She was on a voyage from Marans, Charente-Inférieure to Wexford, United Kingdom. She was refloated the next day and taken in to Wexford in a leaky condition.[52]
United States
The steamship was wrecked on Tullaberga Island, Victoria with the loss of 37 of the 91 people on board. She was on a voyage from Port Phillip, Victoria to Sydney, New South Wales.[53][54]
Winchester
United Kingdom
The barque was destroyed by fire. Her crew survived. She was on a voyage from Melbourne, Victoria to Newcastle, New South Wales.[55]
16 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 16 May 1853
Ship
Country
Description
Carshalton Park
United Kingdom
The ship was wrecked at a port in Sierra Leone.[49] Her crew were rescued.[56][57]
17 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 17 May 1853
Ship
Country
Description
Caroline
Hamburg
The ship was wrecked on the Rock Donares, Jersey. She was on a voyage from Paraiba, Brazil to Hamburg.[58][59]
Emilie
Prussia
The brig ran aground on the Beacon Rock, in the River Tay. She was on a voyage from Stettin to Dundee, Forfarshire, United Kingdom.[60]
18 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 18 May 1853
Ship
Country
Description
Anne Mackay
United Kingdom
The ship ran aground in the Somme. She was on a voyage from Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland to the Somme. She was refloated.[61]
19 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 19 May 1853
Ship
Country
Description
Argyle
United Kingdom
The barque foundered off the coast of Newfoundland, British North America with the loss of fifteen of the 25 people on board. Survivors were rescued by the brigHarmony (France). Argyle was on a voyage from London to Quebec City, Province of Canada, British North America.[62]
Mary Ann
United Kingdom
The schooner ran aground and capsized at Hartlepool, County Durham. She was righted and found to be severely damaged.[40]
20 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 20 May 1853
Ship
Country
Description
Aurora
United Kingdom
The barque foundered in the Atlantic Ocean (45°50′N38°00′W / 45.833°N 38.000°W / 45.833; -38.000) with the loss of 26 of the 42 people on board. Thirteen survivors were rescued by Volusia (United Kingdom), three survivors were reported missing. Aurora was on a voyage from Hull, Yorkshire to New York, United States.[63][64][65]
Collingwood
United Kingdom
The ship was driven ashore at Bathurst, New Brunswick, British North America. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Ayr to Dalhousie, New Brunswick.[66]
Lamb
United Kingdom
The sloop was driven ashore at Cramond, Lothian. She floated off but consequently sank. Her crew were rescued.[67]
21 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 21 May 1853
Ship
Country
Description
Field Marshal Radetzky
Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia
The ship was in collision with George (United Kingdom) and sank in the Mediterranean Sea. Her crew were rescued by George. Field Marshal Radetzky was on a voyage from Alexandria, Egypt to London, United Kingdom.[68]
Oriental Queen
United Kingdom
The ship was wrecked on the coast of Victoria.[69]
The ship ran aground on the Goodwin Sands, Kent, United Kingdom. She was on a voyage from Torrevecchia Teatina, Papal States to Riga. She was refloated.[58]
23 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 23 May 1853
Ship
Country
Description
Bonne Mere
France
The ship was wrecked at Barcelona, Spain. She was on a voyage from London, United Kingdom to Barcelona.[71]
Eliza Leishman
United Kingdom
The ship was wrecked on Rathlin Island, County Donegal. She was on a voyage form Glasgow, Renfrewshire to Port Phillip, Victoria.[67]
Frisk
United Kingdom
The ship was wrecked at the Melbourne Heads. She was on a voyage from Liverpool, Lancashire to Melbourne, Victoria.[69]
The brig was wrecked on the Kentish Knock, or on the Longsand, in the North Sea off the coast of Essex, United Kingdom. Six of her twelve crew were rescued by a fishing smack, the rest by the steamshipVivid (United Kingdom). Anthi was on a voyage from Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, United Kingdom to Venice, Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia .[72][40][61]
Fagens Minde, or Krogers Minde
Norway
The ship ran aground and was damaged at Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom. She was on a voyage from "Veile" to Wisbech.[73][72]
Utility
United Kingdom
The brig was driven ashore at Ness Point, Suffolk. She was on a voyage from Seaham, County Durham to London or vice versa. She was refloated on 9 June and towed in to Lowestoft, Suffolk.[74][40][75]
25 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 25 May 1853
Ship
Country
Description
Arendina
Netherlands
The sloop ran aground on the Stoney Binks, in the North Sea off the mouth of the Humber and broke her back. She was on a voyage from Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland to Grimsby, Lincolnshire, United Kingdom. She was refloated and taken in to Grimsby.[61]
Catharine
United Kingdom
The ship ran aground off Cape Spartel, Morocco. She was on a voyage from Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland to Cartagena, Spain.[16]
Stewarts
United Kingdom
The ship was driven ashore on Sancti Petri, Spain with the loss of seven of her twelve crew. She was on a voyage from South Shields, County Durham to Cartagena, Spain.[76][77]
26 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 26 May 1853
Ship
Country
Description
Catherine
United Kingdom
The ship was driven ashore 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) south of "Cape Sharvel", Spain. She was on a voyage from Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland to Cartagena, Spain. She was later refloated and towed in to Gibraltar Bay, where she arrived on 5 June.[66]
Catherine Ellen
United Kingdom
The ship sprang a leak, capsized, exploded and sank 14 nautical miles (26 km) off . All on board survived. She was on a voyage from Newport, Monmouthshire to Liverpool, Lancashire.[78][61]
Good Intent
United Kingdom
The sloop sprang a leak off Inchcolm. She was on a voyage from Grangemouth, Stirlingshire to Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland. She put in to Burntisland, Fife, where she sank. Her crew were rescued.[79]Good Intent was refloated on 8 June and founde to be severely damaged.[75]
27 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 27 May 1853
Ship
Country
Description
United Kingdom
The steamship was wrecked on Neckman's Ground, in the Baltic Sea. All on board survived. Some of the survivors were rescued by the steamship Emperor (United Kingdom). Neptune was on a voyage from London to Saint Petersburg, Russia.[71][80][81]
Victoria
Victoria
The barque was wrecked in the Torres Strait. All on board reached Booby Island, New South Wales. They were subsequently rescued by Blackheath and Trafalgar (both United Kingdom). Victoria was on a voyage from Port Phillip to Mauritius.[82]
28 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 28 May 1853
Ship
Country
Description
Edina
United Kingdom
The barque was driven ashore at Scarborough, Yorkshire. She was on a voyage from Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland to Cartagena, Spain. She was refloated and resumed her voyage.[61]
Frisk
United Kingdom
The ship was wrecked at the Melbourne Heads, New South Wales. She was on a voyage from Liverpool, Lancashire to Melbourne.[83]
29 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 29 May 1853
Ship
Country
Description
Earl of Durham
United Kingdom
The ship struck the Pearl Rock, in the Strait of Gibraltar. She was on a voyage from Odessa to Queenstown, County Cork. She was refloated and resumed her voyage.[84]
Elizabeth
United Kingdom
The ship sank in the Zebra Channel. She was refloated on 10 June and beached at Bootle, Lancashire.[85][86]
Norden
Norway
The barque sank at Tibbit's Cove, Province of Canada. Some of her crew were reported missing.[87] She was refloated in late June and towed in to Quebec City.[88]
St. Pierre
British North America
The steamship suffered a boiler explosion and sank at Gilmour's Cove, Province of Canada. Eight of the ten people on board were killed.[87]
30 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 30 May 1853
Ship
Country
Description
Elizabeth
United Kingdom
The schooner sank in the Zebra Channel.[89]She was refloated on 10 June and beached at Bootle, Lancashire.[74]
Johannes
Kingdom of Hanover
The galiot was in collision with Ruthinia (United Kingdom) and sank in the Mediterranean Sea. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Tunis, Beylik of Tunis to London, United Kingdom.[16]
31 May[]
List of shipwrecks: 31 May 1853
Ship
Country
Description
Canton
United Kingdom
The ship was in company with Sir Edward Hamilton on a voyage from Hull to St Petersburg when they ran aground on Anholt. They were assisted off and were to proceed on their voyages.[90]
Capodistria
Flag unknown
The ship ran aground at Malta. She was on a voyage from Taganrog, Russia to Malta. She was refloated the next day.[91]
Olive Branch
United Kingdom
The ship was wrecked at White Head, near Louisbourg, Nova Scotia, British North America. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from Sunderland, County Durham to Quebec City, Province of Canada, British North America.[92][66]
Sea
United Kingdom
The ship was driven ashore and wrecked near Port Phillip, Victoria with the loss of seventeen of the 26 people on board and that of a rescuer.[93]
The ship was in company with Canton on a voyage from Hull to St Petersburg when they ran aground on Anholt. They were assisted off and were to proceed on their voyages.[94]
Unknown date[]
For the loss of the Sardinian ship Lavinia in mid-May, see List of shipwrecks in March 1853 § 20 March.
List of shipwrecks: Unknown date in May 1853
Ship
Country
Description
Darling
United Kingdom
The schooner capsized at Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham and was damaged.[84]
Duke of Manchester
United Kingdom
The ship foundered in the Atlantic Ocean. Her crew were rescued.[95]
Fame
British North America
The ship was driven ashore on Green Island. She was on a voyage from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Montreal, Province of Canada. She was later refloated and taken in to Quebec City, Province of Canada.[16]
Generale Americano
Ottoman Empire
The ship ran aground at the entrance to the Bosphorus. She was on a voyage from to a British port. She was refloated and taken in to Constantinople, where she arrived on 28 May.[96]
Harpe
Russia
The ship struck a sunken rock off the Barbary Coast. She was on a voyage from Queenstown, County Cork, United Kingdom to Constantinople, Ottoman Empire. She put in to Gibraltar on 6 May in a sinking condition.[67]
Hellesmuth
Prussia
The brig ran aground at "Mullinasole", County Donegal, United Kingdom. She was refloated on 24 May and taken in to .[78]
Hoffnung
Dantzic
The ship was driven ashore. She was on a voyage from Dantzic to Queenstown. She was refloated and put in to Ystad, Swede on 2 May.[33]
Jean and Margaret
United Kingdom
The ship was driven ashore and wrecked at Flamborough Head, Yorkshire.[38]
The schooner was abandoned in the Atlantic Ocean before 4 May. Her crew were rescued. She was on a voyage from New York, United States to Halifax, Nova Scotia, British North America.[20]
Prince Arthur
United Kingdom
The ship was wrecked south of Cape St. Augustine, Brazil before 21 May. She was on a voyage from Saint Helena to Pernambuco, Brazil.[95]
The ship ran aground on a reef off "Gaspar Island", Netherlands East Indies before 3 May. She was on a voyage from Liverpool, Lancashire to Shanghai, China. She was refloated on 4 May and resumed her voyage the next day.[98]
Sir John Falstaff
United Kingdom
The ship ran aground on a coral reef. She was on a voyage from Liverpool to Jamaica and Cuba. She was later refloated and taken in to Matanzas, Cuba, where she arrived on 11 May.[86]
Swallow
United Kingdom
The ship was wrecked in Wellkomst Bay with the loss of all but one of her crew. She was on a voyage from Singapore to Port Phillip, Victoria.[99]
United Kingdom
The steamship was driven ashore near Cádiz, Spain. She was on a voyage from Liverpool to Genoa, Kingdom of Sardinia and Livorno, Grand Duchy of Tuscany. She was refloated and put in to Gibraltar, where she arrived on 12 May in a leaky condition.[100]
References[]
^"South Australia". The Morning Chronicle. No. 27033. London. 15 August 1853.
^"China". Daily News. No. 2245. London. 1 August 1853.
^"From the China Mail of June 7". The Morning Chronicle. No. 27021. London. 1 August 1853.
^ ab"Ship News". The Times. No. 21419. London. 4 May 1853. col E, p. 7.
^"Ship News". Glasgow Herald. No. 5278. Glasgsow. 29 August 1853.
^ abcde"Marine Intelligence". The Newcastle Courant etc. No. 9309. Newcastle upon Tyne. 6 May 1853.
^"Ship News". The Standard. No. 8986. London. 27 May 1853.
^"Bristol Ship News". The Bristol Mercury etc. No. 3294. Bristol. 7 May 1853.
^ abcd"Ship News". The Standard. No. 8974. London. 13 May 1853.
^ abcde"Ship News". The Standard. No. 8966. London. 4 May 1853.
^ abcd"Ship News". The Morning Post. No. 24764. London. 5 May 1853. p. 7.