Paddle steamer Britannia built of wood 1815 by John Hunter,
Port Glasgow, engines by Duncan McArthur, Glasgow.
Lengthened and re-engined 1821: 93x16x8 ft., 73 tons, registered Glasgow.
Owned Glasgow and Londonderry Steam Packet Company.
Sank within Donaghadee Harbour 11 October 1829; completely wrecked 13 October.
Captain Knox and all crew and passengers saved.
She intially provided a service within the Clyde, based at Glasgow. In 1821 after a re-build, she provided a pioneering Londonderry - Glasgow service. In late 1829, she began a new service from Warrenpoint (for Newry) to Glasgow, but had to put in to Donaghadee to shelter from a gale. She anchored there but was wrecked in a NE gale.
Newspaper reports:
From Cork Constitution - Saturday 17 October 1829
SHIPWRECKS. A letter from Donaghadee states, that on Sunday night
last, the Britannia steam-boat, from Newry on her way to Glasgow, sunk
at Donaghadee, into the harbour of which she had put in consequence
of the storm. The wind had suddenly changed, and the Britannia tailed
about, on her anchors, when she almost immediately went down. The
wheat, of which her cargo chiefly consisted, has been wet. This, we
understand, has been her first voyage, and as a commencent, it has
been inauspicious.
From Newry Telegraph - Tuesday 20 October 1829
The Britannia steamer still remains in a sunken state within the pier
of Donaghadee, but in not less than 14 feet water. By letter to John
Quinn, Esq., of this town, with a sight of which we have been politely
favoured, it would appear that there is little probability of the vessel being
raised, except in a very shattered condition. The immediate cause of
the disaster to the Britannia - whether she struck on an anchor, as stated in our
last, or on a sunken rock, as more recently reported - has not been clearly
ascertained. About one half of the cargo, consisting of wheat and
other grain, was got out dry; the remainder is completely damaged. It
is, however, with pleasure we learn that no loss has been suffered by
the Shippers at this port, the cargo having been all sufficiently
insured.