Identification & Site Information

  • Name: Prince Eugene
  • Year built: 1832
  • Vessel type: Double-masted wooden Schooner
  • Tonnage & dimensions: (Exact figures not documented; typical small Schooner of the era, likely under 50 tons)
  • Date lost: November 1834 during a severe November storm
  • Loss location: Shoreline of Lake Michigan, ~8 miles (13 km) north of the Manistee River mouth, Michigan (manisteenews.com)

Vessel Type

A modest wooden Schooner with two masts, designed for regional freight hauling across the Upper Great Lakes—flexible and manoeuvrable for coastal cargo like lumber, produce, and general merchandise.

Description

No detailed shipyard records available. As a small Schooner built in 1832, she likely featured a timber-framed Hull, Fore-and-Aft Sails on both masts, and a shallow Draft suited for near-shore navigation and harbour calls. No rebuilds recorded.

History

Commissioned in 1832 amid early Lake Michigan trade, Prince Eugene was among the earliest American-built schooners structured for emerging settlements such as Milwaukee, Racine, and Manitowoc (nmgl.org).
She carried mixed merchandise, though specifics are lacking; a November 1834 gale overtook her, and reports record her loss alongside cargo valued at US $70,000 (a vast sum for that timeframe) (manisteenews.com).

Final Dispositions

Driven ashore by a storm, she was wrecked and became a Total Loss. No records indicate loss of life or rescue difficulties—given remoteness, surviving crew probable, though details are unverified.

Located By & Date Found

There is no record of an official wreck discovery. As a grounding in surf zone near Manistee, remnants likely washed ashore or were later submerged; the site remains unidentified and unmarked.

NOTMARs & Advisories

None noted—no official navigation warnings or hazard records remain specific to this wreck.

Resources & Links

Conclusion

Prince Eugene represents one of the earliest recorded Schooner losses on Lake Michigan, her loss in November 1834 starkly demonstrating the perilous shipping conditions of that era. Carrying a significant cargo of general merchandise (valued at approx. US $70,000), she was driven ashore near Manistee amid a powerful storm. No formal remains have been located, and the site lies uncharted—leaving her story rooted in 19th‑century coastal loss rather than modern dive exploration.

Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms

Early Schooner; Lake Michigan 1834; mixed cargo; Manistee shipwreck; surf‑zone grounding; timber Schooner; Great Lakes maritime.