AH-WR-0381

Invincible

Schooner · Republic of Texas · Lost 1837 · Texas & the Western Gulf

The flagship of the first Texas Navy, captured Santa Anna's supply ships, then wrecked on Galveston sands while fleeing Mexican warships.

Artistic recreation based on recorded historical documents.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

Invincible was one of the four founding schooners of the Republic of Texas Navy, capturing several vessels supplying the Mexican army during the Texas Revolution. In August 1837, fleeing two larger Mexican warships, she ran aground off Galveston Island and was destroyed by subsequent storms. Her exact wreck site has never been confirmed despite modern search efforts.

Vessel

Built: 1835
Builder: Not established
Yard: Baltimore, Maryland
Material: Wood
Length: 75 ft
Beam: Not established
Tonnage: 125
Propulsion: Sail, two masts
Owners: Navy of the Republic of Texas

Loss

Date: August 27, 1837
Cause: Grounding
Location: Off the eastern end of Galveston Island
Water: Gulf of Mexico
Voyage: Not established
Cargo: Not established
Aboard: Not established
Lives lost: Not established
Master: Not established

The Wreck Today

Depth: Not established
Condition: Not established
Orientation: Not established
Discovered: Not established
Protection: Legally protected Texas archaeological site if located

Position

Coordinates: 29.22° N 94.91° W
Accuracy: General area only
Nearest: Galveston Island, Texas
Region: Texas & the Western Gulf

General area only: coordinate of Galveston Island, Texas from the USGS Geographic Names Information System, marking the named place of loss (eastern end of Galveston Island) recorded for this vessel, not a surveyed wreck position.

Evidence

Overall confidence: Partially documented (70/100)

The exact wreck location has not been confirmed despite modern survey efforts.

Texas State Historical Association Handbook of Texas
Vessel history, loss narrative.
Texas Navy Association
Search history and location surveys.
USGS Geographic Names Information System — Galveston Island
coordinate of the named place of loss