The Columbia heeling as she approaches a squall. Drawing by George Davidson in 1793, who served as the ship's artist.
|
|
History | |
---|---|
United States of America | |
Name: | Columbia |
Owner: | Joseph Barrell |
Builder: | James Briggs |
Laid down: |
|
Launched: | |
Decommissioned: | October 15, 1806 |
Renamed: | Columbia Rediviva |
Nickname(s): | Columbia |
Fate: | salvaged |
Notes: | First US ship to circumnavigate the globe |
General characteristics | |
Class and type: | full rigged ship |
Tons burthen: | 213 bm |
Length: | 83 ft 6 in (25.45 m) on deck. |
Beam: | 24 ft 2 in (7.37 m) |
Draught: | 11 ft (3.4 m) |
Propulsion: | sail |
Sail plan: | three-masted ship (foremast, mainmast, mizzenmast) |
Complement: | 16-18 minimum and 30-31 maximum |
Armament: | 10 cannons, 2 heavy stern chaser guns, 4 heavy and 4 lighter broadside guns. |
Columbia Rediviva (commonly known as the Columbia) was a privately owned ship under the command of John Kendrick, along with Captain Robert Gray, best known for going to the Pacific Northwest for the maritime fur trade. The "Rediviva" (Latin "revived") was added to her name upon a rebuilding in 1787. Since Columbia was privately owned, she did not carry the prefix designation "USS".
Early authorities claim the ship was built in 1773 by James Briggs at Hobart’s Landing on North River, in Norwell, Massachusetts and named Columbia. Later historians say she was built in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1787. In 1790 she became the first American ship to circumnavigate the globe. During the first part of this voyage, she was accompanied by the Lady Washington which served as tender for the Columbia. In 1792 Captain Gray entered the Columbia River and named it after the ship. The river and its basin, in turn, lent its name to the surrounding region, and subsequently to the British colony and Canadian province located in part of this region.
The ship was decommissioned and salvaged in 1806. A replica of Lady Washington is homeported at Grays Harbor Historical Seaport in Aberdeen, Washington.