The world's largest schooner
by Capt. James McNamara 4 Aug 2018 08:34 UTC
The Thomas W. Lawson, which had a light gray hull when constructed, is seen on its maiden voyage in 1902 © Capt. James McNamara
The Thomas W. Lawson was an extraordinary ship. It was the world's largest pure sailing ship, the only seven-master ever built, and garnered notoriety by creating the world's first major oil spill.
In 1901, a group of Boston investors decided to build the world's largest sailing ship and rig it as a schooner, without even having an auxiliary engine. The ship was to be based in San Francisco and employed in the Pacific. However, during its construction, the economics of the U.S. East Coast coal trades had changed due to the railroads cutting their rates. Not wanting to be held hostage to the railroads, the investors contracted the naval architect B.B. Crowninshield to design their ship and the Fore River Shipyard at Quincy, Mass. undertook its construction.
Boston-based Coastwise Transportation Co., which was headed by John Crowley, became the ship's owner and named it the Thomas W. Lawson, who was president of the Bay State Gas Co. and one of the financial backers of the venture. Costing $248,000, the ship began its maiden voyage in 1902.
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