Identification & Site Information

  • Name(s): Jesse H. Breck (renamed H.M. Stanley after Rebuild)
  • Official Number: Not specified
  • Type: Three-masted wooden Schooner
  • Built: 1873, Port Dalhousie, Ontario
  • Builder: Andrews & Son
  • Original Owners: Breck & Booth, Kingston, Ontario
  • Dimensions (as Jesse H. Breck):
    • Length: 342 ft (104.2 m)
    • Beam: 24 ft (7.3 m)
    • Depth: 12 ft (3.7 m)
  • Tonnage: Gross 376 tons, Net 364 tons
  • Final Location: Near Nine-Mile Point, Lake Ontario
  • Date of Wreck: 17 May 1890

Vessel Type Description

A large three-masted Schooner, Jesse H. Breck was among the largest wooden cargo schooners operating on Lake Ontario. Designed for long-haul bulk transport—particularly lumber—she represented the peak of Schooner design in the early 1870s. Schooners of this class were workhorses of the Great Lakes economy.

History

The vessel was commissioned in 1873 by Breck & Booth of Kingston and launched at Port Dalhousie. Her large cargo capacity made her a staple in the lumber and bulk trade across the Great Lakes.

On 17 May 1890, while en route from Toledo, Ohio, to Garden Island, Ontario, carrying a full load of oak lumber, Jesse H. Breck was caught in a violent storm off Nine-Mile Point, Lake Ontario. Despite the experience of Captain Thomas Mackie, the Schooner capsized and sank near the captain’s own family home. All eight crew members perished, including Mackie’s three sons and daughter, making the tragedy deeply personal and widely mourned.

Efforts to raise the ship were initially successful. On 1–2 June 1890, the vessel was lifted and towed toward Garden Island, but she Foundered again just 100 yards from shore, ending immediate salvage attempts.

Rebirth as H.M. Stanley (1892)

In 1892, the remains of the Jesse H. Breck were Rebuilt and relaunched as H.M. Stanley. The new dimensions were:

  • Length: 132.3 ft (40.3 m)
  • Beam: 25.6 ft (7.8 m)
  • Depth: 11.7 ft (3.6 m)
  • Tonnage: 305 gross tons
  • Owner: George W. Morden, Oakville, Ontario

This rebirth allowed the vessel to continue operating under a new name and purpose, symbolizing both recovery and maritime practicality.

Final Disposition

The Jesse H. Breck was lost permanently on 17 May 1890, although its Hull was raised and repurposed. As H.M. Stanley, the vessel resumed service until an unrecorded final fate. The original form of the Schooner no longer exists.

Located By & Date Found

No wreckage of the original Jesse H. Breck remains at Nine-Mile Point. Raised wreckage was reused, and no modern dive site is associated with the location.

NOTMARs & Advisories

None currently noted near Nine-Mile Point related to this vessel.

Resources & Links

Conclusion

The Jesse H. Breck was a significant Lake Ontario Schooner, whose tragic end off Nine-Mile Point resulted in one of the more personal and painful shipwrecks of the 19th century. Her subsequent resurrection as H.M. Stanley is a rare example of large-scale Rebuild following Total Loss. Today, the story of her loss and renewal serves as a solemn reminder of the human cost of Great Lakes commerce and the resilience of maritime communities.

Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms

  • Keywords: Jesse H. Breck, H.M. Stanley, Schooner, Great Lakes, Lake Ontario, shipwreck, Nine-Mile Point, Port Dalhousie, 1890 storm
  • Categories: Wooden sailing vessels, maritime tragedy, rebuilds, Ontario shipbuilding
  • Glossary: Schooner, capsized, salvage, repurposed, Rebuild