Hersilia (1819)

History
United States of America
Owner:	William A. Fanning, James P. Sheffield, Ephraim Williams
Operator:	James P. Sheffield
Builder:	Christopher Leeds
Launched:	1819
Acquired:	1819
Fate:	Destroyed by pirates in Chile
General characteristics
Class and type:	Brig
Displacement:	130 tons
Length:	68 ft (21 m)
Beam:	22 ft 8 in (6.91 m)
Depth of hold:	10 ft 1 in (3.07 m)

The 'Hersilia' was an American merchant vessel and the first from the United States to visit the South Shetland Islands. During its second voyage it was seized by Vicente Benavides, a royalist commander in the Chilean War of Independence, who later ordered its destruction late in 1821.

It was built by Christopher Leeds in 1819 at a dry dock in Mystic, Connecticut. The vessel was jointly owned between eight men that collectively had extensive maritime and commercial experience. Among them were Edmund Fanning's son, William A. Fanning, along with Ephraim Williams and its captain James P. Sheffield.

The Hersilia departed from Stonington, Connecticut for the Antarctic Ocean in July 1819. Over a decade later Edmund Fanning claimed that it was sent to go exploring the southern Pacific Ocean. However this has been challenged by later historians, who question Fanning's assertion. Sheffield served as its captain, W. Fanning as supercargo and Nathaniel Palmer as second mate. The Hersilia stopped in the Falkland Islands to procure much needed water and food supplies. It is uncertain the precise date the Hersilia reached the South Shetland Islands, but it was primarily stationed at Hersilia Cove on Rugged Island. An estimated 9,000 Antarctic fur seal were killed by the crew for their valuable pelts over the span of two weeks. Afterwards, the Hersilia returned to Stonington in early 1820.

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Wikipedia