Identification & Site Information

  • Name: Queen Charlotte
  • Former Names: None
  • Official Registration Number: None
  • Date Built and Launched: 1809, by the British Government at Amherstburg, Ontario
  • Measurements Length: 92 ft (28 m) Beam: 26 ft (7.9 m) Depth: 11 ft (3.4 m)
  • Tonnage: 254 tons
  • Date of Loss: Spring 1844
  • Place of Loss: Buffalo, New York, Lake Erie

Vessel Type

The Queen Charlotte began her life as a wooden, two-masted brig—a full-rigged war sloop designed for naval engagements. Built by the British Government in 1809 at Amherstburg, Ontario, she was constructed to serve in military operations on the Great Lakes. After her capture during the War of 1812, she was later converted into a commercial vessel in 1835, reflecting a common practice of repurposing former naval ships for civilian trade.

As a 16 or 17-gun armed sloop, the Queen Charlotte was part of the British Royal Navy’s efforts to maintain naval supremacy on Lake Erie during the War of 1812. After her capture by Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry in 1813 at the Battle of Lake Erie, she was Abandoned and left submerged in Misery Bay, Pennsylvania.

In 1835, the vessel was raised and Rebuilt as a commercial Brig. She operated on Lake Erie under the ownership of William N. Dewitt of Albany, New York, with Captain A. N. Clark serving as her master. In her new role, she carried cargo and possibly passengers across the Great Lakes, marking a significant shift from her original military purpose.

Construction and Naval Service (1809–1813):

The Queen Charlotte was built in 1809 as part of the British naval fleet on the Great Lakes, designed for combat and defense during the rising tensions with the United States. She was stationed at Amherstburg, near Detroit, and was a key vessel in the British squadron operating on Lake Erie.

Capture in the War of 1812:

On September 10, 1813, during the Battle of Lake Erie, the Queen Charlotte was captured by U.S. forces under the command of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry. The battle marked a significant American victory, giving the United States control over Lake Erie and disrupting British supply lines. Following her capture, the Queen Charlotte was left to deteriorate in Misery Bay, near Erie, Pennsylvania.

Commercial Rebirth (1835–1844):

After lying submerged for nearly two decades, the Queen Charlotte was raised from Misery Bay in 1835 and Rebuilt as a commercial Brig. She was outfitted for freight transport on Lake Erie, becoming a symbol of the post-war shift from military to commercial maritime activity on the Great Lakes.

Final Disposition and Loss (1844)

While preparing for the early shipping season in Buffalo, the Queen Charlotte was lifted from her moorings by a spring freshet—an annual surge of water from melting snow and ice—and stranded high on the riverbank. Given her age and the height of her stranding, efforts to refloat her were Abandoned. She was subsequently burned in place, although historical records do not specify whether the fire was intentional or an accident.

Despite the vessel’s destruction, some of her construction materials were salvaged and later used in the building of the Steamer A. D. Patchin.

Loss of Life

None: The Queen Charlotte was uncrewed at the time of her loss, as she was being prepared for seasonal operations.

Final Disposition

After being stranded and burned, the Queen Charlotte was declared a Total Loss. However, parts of her timber and fittings were repurposed, ensuring that some remnants of the vessel continued to serve in the Great Lakes maritime industry.

Military and Historical Significance

Role in the War of 1812: The Queen Charlotte played a notable role in the War of 1812, participating in naval engagements on Lake Erie. Her capture at the Battle of Lake Erie marked a pivotal moment in the war, contributing to the American victory that secured control of the lake and disrupted British operations in the region.

Transition to Commercial Service: The vessel’s resurrection and Conversion into a commercial Brig in 1835 reflect the broader trend of repurposing military vessels for peace-time commerce. This transition highlights the evolving nature of Great Lakes shipping in the aftermath of the War of 1812.

Located By & Date Found

Nil return.

NOTMARs & Advisories

There are no known navigational hazards associated with the wreck of the Queen Charlotte, as the vessel was burned and dismantled following her stranding.

Resources & Links

Conclusion

The Queen Charlotte represents a unique chapter in Great Lakes maritime history—a vessel that began as a British war sloop in 1809, was captured by Commodore Perry during the War of 1812, and later reborn as a commercial Brig in 1835. Her final loss in 1844 at Buffalo, New York, due to a spring freshet and subsequent fire, marks the end of a vessel that witnessed both war and peace on Lake Erie. While her time as a military vessel was brief, her legacy endured through her commercial service and the reuse of her materials in other vessels, reflecting the resilience and adaptability of maritime operations in the 19th-century Great Lakes.

Suggested Keywords: Queen Charlotte Brig, War of 1812 naval ships, Battle of Lake Erie, Great Lakes commercial vessels, Buffalo shipwrecks, Misery Bay shipwrecks.

Categories: Shipwrecks of Lake Erie, War of 1812 Naval History, Commercial Brigs of the Great Lakes, Maritime History of Buffalo, NY.

Glossary Terms: Brig, Sloop of War, Stranding, Freshet, Battle of Lake Erie.