Launch of the Great Republic
October 4, 1853

"This triumph of marine architecture was launched from Mr. M'Kay's ship-yard, in East Boston, at precisely twelve o'clock, on Tuesday, the 4th inst. [October 4, 1853] The ceremony of introducing the noble fabric to her destined home occurred in the presence of an immense crowd of spectators, and she passed to her mission on the deep amid the crash of cannon and the cheers of the people.... Men, women and children vied in interest to get a look; and boys and men clung like spiders to the rigging of the ships, and the sides and roofs of stores and houses, to get a glance at the magnificent vessel. Captain Alden Gifford christened her in pure Cochituate, the GREAT REPUBLIC, as she left her cradle and took to her watery bed. The Great Republic is one of the most beautiful crafts ever floated. She is 325 feet long, 53 feet wide, her depth 37 feet, and her capacity 4000 tons—the largest merchant ship, probably, that ever tasted salt water. The Great Republic thus stands in the front of the ships as the great republic she was named for does in front of the nations, and we hope her prosperity may be in an equal degree with that of her great namesake." –Illustration and text from Gleason's Pictorial Drawing-Room Companion, Boston, October 22, 1853

The October 4, 1853, christening of the Great Republic—with bottled water from Lake Cochituate—was thought to be shipbuilder Donald McKay's nod to Boston's growing temperance movement. In fact, McKay's oldest son had, "with some boon companions, purloined the Champagne from the mould loft the night previous to the launching. This remained undiscovered until all was in readiness for the mammoth clipper to slide off, and Cochituate (then being introduced as Boston's drinking water) had to be hastily substituted." –Richard C. McKay, grandson of Donald McKay

Following her temperate launch—thought by some sailors to have cursed the four-masted marvel—the Great Republic was towed to New York, where she was to be made ready for her maiden voyage to Liverpool. In the early morning hours of December 27, 1853, a fire at the Novelty Baking Company spread to the ship. The 334 1/2 x 53 1/2 x 38 foot leviathan burned nearly to water's edge. Rebuilt—on a somewhat smaller but still-gargantuan scale—by the Long Island firm of Sneeden & Whitlock, she finally sailed for Liverpool on February 24, 1855. A mere 17 years later, after five New York–San Francisco passages, the Great Republic (renamed Denmark) was abandoned near Bermuda, with water in the hold.

More about the Great Republic 

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