Mary Celeste

Name	Mary Celeste
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Name	Mary Celeste
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Owner	James H. Winchester
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Registry	New York City
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The Mary Celeste was an American merchant brigantine that was discovered adrift and deserted in the Atlantic Ocean on December 4, 1872. The ship was in a seaworthy condition under partial sail, and her lifeboat was missing. The last entry in her log was dated ten days earlier. She had left New York City for Genoa on November 7, 1872, and was found by the British brig Dei Gratia.

History

The Mary Celeste was built in Spencer's Island, Nova Scotia, and launched under British registration as the Amazon in 1861. She was transferred to American ownership and registration in 1868, when she acquired her new name. The ship was 103 feet long, 25.7 feet wide, and had a depth of 11.7 feet, with a gross tonnage of 282 tons.

Early Career

Initially, the Amazon had a series of mishaps, including a collision and a fire. After being sold to American owners, she was renamed Mary Celeste and underwent a major refit. Her new captain, Benjamin Briggs, was a seasoned mariner and part-owner of the ship.

The Fateful Voyage

On November 7, 1872, the Mary Celeste set sail from New York City bound for Genoa, Italy, with a cargo of denatured alcohol. On board were Captain Briggs, his wife Sarah, their two-year-old daughter Sophia, and seven crew members. The ship was found deserted on December 4, 1872, by the Dei Gratia, about 400 miles east of the Azores.

The Mystery

The mystery of the Mary Celeste has intrigued historians and maritime enthusiasts for over a century. The ship was found in a disheveled but seaworthy condition, with her cargo intact and ample provisions on board. Theories about the crew's disappearance range from piracy to mutiny, and from natural disasters to paranormal explanations.

Investigations

An inquiry was held in Gibraltar, but no definitive conclusions were reached. Theories have included the possibility of a waterspout, an explosion of alcohol fumes, or a sudden seaquake. However, none of these theories fully explain the lack of damage to the ship and the absence of the crew.

Legacy

The Mary Celeste has become a symbol of unexplained maritime mysteries. Her story has been the subject of numerous books, documentaries, and fictional accounts. The ship continued to sail under different owners until she was deliberately wrecked off the coast of Haiti in 1885 as part of an attempted insurance fraud.

Also see

• Ghost ship
• Brigantine
• Maritime history
• List of maritime disasters