List of historical ships in British Columbia


The following is a list of vessels notable in the history of the Canadian province of British Columbia, including Spanish, Russian, American and other military vessels and all commercial vessels on inland waters as well as on saltwater routes up to the end of World War II.

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ShipOther namesCaptainTypeTonsDraftRegistry OwnerEvents/locationsDates in BCDemiseComments
La Flavie
La Solide
La PlataSpain
LabouchereJohn Swanson, W.A. Mouatpaddle steamerGreat BritainHudson's Bay Companysank off Point Reyes, California, on April 15, 1866, with the loss of two lives
Lady of the LakeSail-William J. SmithOperated on Atlin Lake.by 1904 until 1908Retired in 1908.Built by 1904.
Lady of the LakeGreat BritainFraser Canyon Gold Rush, Douglas Road
Lady WashingtonWashingtonRobert Gray, John Kendrick, Roger Simpson, Captain Reid sloop, refitted as brig90 tonsU.S.Consortium of Boston merchants. Kendrick after 1789 ; John Howel after Kendrick's death in 1794.1787 left Boston with Columbia; on Northwest Coast 1788, wintered at Nootka Sound; in July 1789 all furs of both vessels put on Columbia and Gray and Kendrick exchanged commands; Gray took Columbia to Canton and Boston while Kendrick assumed ownership of Lady Washington. In China 1790. In 1791 to Northwest Coast via Japan. In July 1791 Haida at Ninstints tried to capture vessel in revenge for an earlier incident involving Kendrick. 1791-1796, several trips between Hawaii, Canton, and NW Coast, pioneering the Hawaii sandalwood trade. December 1794 Kendrick killed by a salute from the British Jackal. After 1796 operated between Canton and Batavia for Dutch agents.1788-1794foundered in the Philippines in 1797Consort of the Columbia Rediviva. First US ship known to clear from port for the Northwest Coast.
LaGrangeB.F. SnowBarque259 tons.United StatesSalem merchants.On Northwest Coast in 1834; then Hawaii and Canton with cargo of lumber and furs from NW Coast. At NW Coast and Hawaii 1836-1837. In 1849 took prospectors from Salem, Massachusetts, to California Gold Rush. Sold in California.1834, 1836Built in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. One of the last American maritime fur trade vessels on Northwest Coast, irritating Hudson's Bay Company. Crew of 11 men. Salem owners memorialized vessel with full-rigged model now in Peabody Essex Museum.
150 tonsBritainHBCLaunched 1826, purchased by HBC 1831.Sold 1837.HBC ship used for the PNW coast trade.
LamaJohn Bancroftbrig145 tons.United StatesEliab Grimes.Early career unclear; 1838, sailed between Hawaii and California. Late 1838 took crew of Kaigani Haida to hunt sea otters in California. Haida mutinied, Bancroft killed, Haida left ship and took furs north in their kayaks.1838Maritime fur trade. Adele Ogden wrote about the mutiny.
Lapwingprobably Andrew Blanchard, William Blanchard ; then Russian captain and crew.Brig176 tons.United States, RussiaNathaniel Dorr, William Blanchard, and others. Sold in Russians in Sitka.1824 left Boston; 1825 at Sitka sold to Russians. July 1825 at Honolulu with Russian crew; February 1826 at Canton.1825Built in Scituate, Massachusetts in 1822. Maritime fur trade voyage 1824-1825. Sold to Russians who used vessel for fur trade.
LascarJames Harris Brig217 tons.United StatesJohn Bryant, Lemuel Porter, William Sturgis, John Suter.1820 left Boston, 1821-24 on Northwest Coast, wintering in Hawaii; November 1824 in Hawaii; 1825 in Canton; August 1825 in Boston. Sold in 1825.1821-1824Built 1817 in Medford. 1820 maritime fur trade voyage. Repeatedly met Rob Roy, Mentor, Hamilton, and Arab at Haida Gwaii or coasts to north and east. Reports of cruelty by Captain Harris caused owners to have their "greatest lawyer" bring charges against him.
Lelia ByrdWilliam ShalerBrig175 tons.United StatesWilliam Shaler and Richard J. Cleveland of Salem, Massachusetts.August 1803 sailed from Canton to Northwest Coast; 1804 on NW Coast; failed to cross Columbia Bar over 8 days of trying; visited California; 1805 in Hawaii.1804Registered in Portsmouth, Virginia. In 1805 sold to King Kamehameha in exchange for, in part, the smaller Hawaiian-built schooner Tamana.
survey ship
LittelerLittillar, Latitia, Little LarJonathan Dorrbrig110 tons.United States John Dorr and Ebenezer Dorr Jr. of Boston1800 left Boston; 1801 on NW Coast; January 1802 in Canton; arrive at Boston July 1802.1801Built 1797 in Virginia. Made one maritime fur trade voyage 1800-1802.
LoriotCaptain Nye. Captain Bancroft. Lieut. Lieut. William A. Slacum.Schooner; brig after 183392 tons.U.S.Early career unclear; July 1833 sold in Oahu; 1835-1836 cruised between Hawaii, California, and NW Coast; 1836 tried to acquire Alaska Natives as contract hunters in California, boarded and driven from Alaska by Imperial Russian Navy; 1837 on NW Coast, California, Hawaii.1836-1837Built 1828 in Plymouth for maritime fur trade. In 1835, crew of ten described as almost entirely Native Hawaiian plus American officers. In 1836 American Consul wrote to US Secretary of State John Forsyth to protest the Russian Navy forcing vessel from Dall Island, saying that Tattisky was not in Russian territory and that the act ruined the ship's venture.
LouisaWilliam Martain ; James Lambert ship222 tonsUnited States October 1826 left Boston; 1827-28 on Northwest Coast, wintered on coast. Ownership changed in Hawaii, 1828 or 1829.1827-1828Maritime fur trade. Sailed with consort Active, Captain William Cotting. In 1828 Captain Martain wrote the owners that the Northwest trade was "ruined", with furs dwindling in quantity and quality, prices on coast rising while fur prices falling in Canton.
LucyJoseph Pierpont United StatesDorrOn Northwest Coast 1801; at Tattisky, May 1801; left for China, June 1801; Canton in November 1801; Boston return May 1802.1801Little known; spent apparently made just one maritime fur trade voyage.
Lummi 3Renfrew, FriendshipHorace TattersolCommercial476′11″CanadianEdward Pieters/Paula MattheiConstructed by Lummi Bay Packers by George Wrang in 1919/Bellingham, WA/ San Diego, CA1919 - 1956Currently in San Diego, CAConstructed for transportation to BC and Alaskan canneries
Lydia Samuel Hillbrig180 tons.United StatesTheodore Lyman, other Boston merchants.1804 left Boston for maritime fur trade; 1805 on Northwest Coast; July 1805 Nootka Sound, rescued John Jewitt and John Thompson ; cruised to Alaska, then to Columbia River where a letter left with natives by Lewis and Clark was taken and forwarded from Canton to Philadelphia; November 1806 at Canton; May 1807 back in Boston.1805-1806Two surviving supercargo logs describe Captain Hill as an unstable tyrant. In 1805 assisted Atahualpa after attack by Heiltsuk or Tsimshian at Milbanke Sound. Some logs and journals by members of Lydia and Atahualpa survive. May be the same brig as Lydia.
Lydia Ilmena Thomas Brown; James Bennett; Captain Wadsworth brig90 tonsUnited States ; RussiaJames & Thomas Handasyd PerkinsApril 1809 left Boston for maritime fur trade; 1810-13 on Northwest Coast, trading continuously; Fall 1813 fur cargo transferred to Atahualpa; late 1813 to Hawaii; sold with Atahualpa to Russians for 20,000 sealskins; 1814 left Sitka under Russian command to collect furs in California.1810-1814In 1810 rescued/ransomed survivors of Russian St. Nicholas which had wrecked in Makah territory in 1808. May be the same brig as Lydia , or Lydia.
Lydia Captain Lucatt or Lacaat ; Henry Gyzelaar Schooner90 tonsU.S.. Kingdom of HawaiiPhiladelphia China Traders Benjamin C. Wilcocks and James Smith Wilcocks. King Kaumualii after 1816.Early career unclear; 1813 arrived at Macau from NW Coast and Marquesas Islands; 1815 at Canton, leaving with cargo for Sitka; September 1815 at Sitka. In Sitka Captain Gyzelaar joined Captain William Smith of the Albatross for illegal venture to California coast; December 1815 left Sitka for California; January 1816 both Lydia and Albatross seized by Spanish and crews imprisoned but eventually released.1813, 1816May be the same vessel as Lydia. Involved in Maritime Fur Trade, California Hide Trade, sealing, and poaching. In 1816 sold with Albatross to kings of Hawaii. Albatross went to Kamehameha I in March, 1816; Lydia to Kaumualii in October.

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ShipOther namesCaptainTypeTonsDraftRegistry OwnerEvents/locationsDates in BCDemiseComments
YascathchnoiYasashnaRussia