Timber Importation Tax was introduced by Britain at this time to encourage British North American production such that 60-75% of all British imports of unsawn timber for every year from 1816 to 1846 was Canadian timber (Wilson 1994). Associated naval stores that came from the Baltic at that time, essential for the caulking, sealing and preservation of wood-hulled ships and the waterproofing of sails. found an alternate source in the extensive North American pine forests (Appendix above: Naval Stores). Despite the tax advantage some Canadian merchants preferred to evade taxes altogether and built two huge disposable ships near Quebec of heavy timbers, the Columbus and the Baron of Renfrew in 1824 and 1825. At over 90m in length and about 5000t weight these were the largest ships in the world at that time. They were to be sailed to England, broken up and sold for their timber, bypassing the tax (Milne 2006). The latter ship also carried 4000 tons of timber and was not seaworthy. She was wrecked and broke apart off the English coast and segments and timber were found near Calais.
US Naval History, Commander Thomas MacDonough
( Champlain )
Lake Champlain was the site of one of the greatest victories in US naval history, when the outgunned US fleet, under Commander Thomas MacDonough, whose family came from Dublin, defeated the British fleet in the War of 1812. The British army, under General Sir George Provost, outnumbered the Americans two to one and began their invasion down the west side of Lake Champlain in Aug 1813, anticipating that gun coverage from the British fleet would protect them and ensure their supply routes. A fierce tactical battle ensued and ultimately the British vessels were forced to strike their colours, forcing General Provost to abandon his attack. Control of the lake would have provided the British access to the Hudson and the ability to threaten New York. MacDonough’s career ended with h is death from consumption while in command of the famed USS Constitution on 10 Nov 1825.
Upnor , Captain Jeremiah Collins
( Victory, Marco Polo )
After the Anglo-Irish Treaty (1921) the British sent a shipload of armaments on the Upnor from Haulbowline for Plymouth, England. Captain Jeremiah Collins accompanied by a group of well-armed IRA men set off on the tug SS Warrior to intercept and seize the Upnor . The operation succeeded and they brought the ship in to Ballycotton Pier on 29 March 1922, where the large cache of armaments was transferred to waiting trucks. Captain Collins was an avid Irish Nationalist and family stories abound of his exploits. He owned a coal and maritime business at Cobh and George’s Quay, Cork and was a much - respected Cork Harbour Commissioner (Mercantile) from 1904 until his death in 1939, serving as Chairman of the Pilotage Committee.
West Indiamen
( Glanmire, Hebe, Simeon Hardy, Xarifa, Zorilda )
‘ Much the largest fleet [of Indiamen] in the [Cork] port was owned by Simeon Hardy & Sons, and their ships are particularly interesting as a number of them were built in Cork. During the 1850s there were at least five Cork built vessels under Hardy ownership regularly employed in trading between Cork and the Indies; they were the brig Xarifa 206t, built in 1841, the
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