www.shipsuccess.com
Introduction
Welcome to the Ship Success Home Page, my page is devoted to research of the Ship Success, often referred to as the Convict Ship Success, or simply the "Convict Ship."
In a career spanning 106 years (1840-1946), this vessel made history on four continents, gaining notoriety first as one a group of prison hulks fitted out by the Australian government and anchored off Port Melbourne for the purpose of housing convicts during the 1850's, and later as an exhibition ship that was towed from port to port and her patrons charged an admission fee. During the more than half century she was on display, she generated a tremendous amount of controversy in the maritime world, for the reason that her exhibitors claimed erroneously that she had been built in 1790 and that she had seen service as a convict transport, both of these claims being misrepresentations.
By the time the Success ended her days at the hands of an arsonist, July 4th, 1946, near Port Clinton, Ohio, a formidable amount of myth and legend had developed about the ship. This problem has only increased over time. Much of her history is clouded in mystery...
The Research
I have been researching the history of the Success off and on for over 30 years. With the explosion of the World Wide Web as a communication and research medium, I decided to create this site to further aid my research and to provide other the opportunity to learn about this fascinating ship.
This site is intended as a source of information for those wishing to learn more about the Success, and to serve as a clearinghouse for information about the ship.
Despite my digging, there is still much to learn about this enigmatic vessel. There must still be a wealth of information lurking in dusty basements and forgotten attics in the United States, Great Britain and Australia, not to mention in the memories people who still have some invaluable personal knowledge.
Do you know something about the Success? Do you know someone who does? Have you stumbled across some old photographs, letters, diaries, clippings or other materials that relate to this ship or the people who were involved with her? If so, I would like to hear from you! I can be contacted at richard@shipsuccess.com.
The History
The Ship Success has been a pet project of mine for many years. Little known today outside of nautical circles, the Success was seen by millions as she toured the world as an exhibition ship, touching ports on three continents from 1895 to 1942. Launched in 1840 in Burma for Calcutta owners, this teakwood vessel was as fine an example of native shipbuilding as any ever seen. Her dimensions were: 117'3"×26'8"×22'5" and she displaced 621 tons. Equipped with two decks, forecastle and poop and had a square stern with single quarter galleries. A little known fact is that when built she was given a scroll figurehead, to be replaced two later by the female bust that became a hallmark of this fine vessel.
The first 50 years of her remarkable career saw her performing in a wide variety of roles: trader, emigrant ship, coolie transport, and prison hulk. The remainder of her career saw her essentially towed from port to port as a show ship. Unfortunately, her owners during this period, through a combination of ignorance and greed, displayed her as a sort-of convict ship museum, which was, strictly speaking, a misrepresentation of her true history. By the time she met with her rather sad end by fire in 1946, she had earned a reputation, somewhat unfairly, as a hoax. In truth, the world lost the chance to preserve a superb example of 19th century shipbuilding. What follows is a brief chronological history...If you have any information about this vessel, please contact me at richard@shipsuccess.com.