AH-WR-1532

HMS Speedy

Schooner · United Kingdom · Lost 1804 · Lake Ontario & the St. Lawrence

A Provincial Marine schooner lost in 1804 with a judge, lawyers and a prisoner aboard.

Artistic recreation based on recorded historical documents. See the documented evidence.

Interpretive Reconstruction, drawn to convey the vessel's era, type and general form. See the documented evidence.

The Vessel and Her Loss

HMS Speedy was a schooner of the Provincial Marine on Lake Ontario. In October 1804 she sailed for Presqu'ile carrying a judge, lawyers, officials and an accused man bound for trial. She was lost in a snowstorm with everyone aboard. The loss removed much of Upper Canada's legal establishment at once.

Vessel

Built: 1798
Builder: Not established
Yard: Not established
Material: Wood
Length: Not established
Beam: Not established
Tonnage: Not established
Propulsion: Sail
Owners: Not established

Loss

Date: October 8, 1804
Cause: Storm
Location: Off Presqu'ile Point, Lake Ontario
Water: Lake Ontario
Voyage: Not established
Cargo: Not established
Aboard: Not established
Lives lost: All aboard; sources give about 20 or more.
Master: Not established

The Wreck Today

Depth: Not established
Condition: Not established
Orientation: Not established
Discovered: Not established
Protection: Naval vessel

Position

Coordinates: Not established
Accuracy: Position not established
Nearest: Presqu'ile Point, Ontario
Region: Lake Ontario & the St. Lawrence

Pin marks the named place of loss; no published position used.

Evidence

Overall confidence: Partially documented (70/100)

The wreck has not been confirmed; the number aboard varies between sources.

Maritime History of the Great Lakes
Loss date, place and circumstances.
Archives of Ontario
Loss date, place and circumstances.