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NavSource Online: "Old Navy" Ship Photo Archive

Sea Gull (II)

Schooner:

Built, date and location unknown as the New York pilot boat New Jersey

Launched, date unknown

Purchased by the Navy in July 1838

Placed in service as Sea Gull in September 1838, Passed Midshipman James W. E. Reid, in command

Assigned as a tender in the U.S. Exploring Expedition of 1838

Sea Gull sailed with the squadron, departing Hampton Roads, 18 August 1838 for Madeira and the Cape Verde Islands

From Cape Verde Islands the squadron sailed to Rio de Janeiro, arriving, 23 November 1838

From Rio the squadron rounded Cape Horn and dropped anchor in Orange Harbor

From Orange Harbor the squadron began exploration of Antarctica

Early in May 1839 Sea Gull and Flying Fish sailed for Valparaiso, Chile. They encountered strong gales and heavy seas and lost contact with each other on 8 May. Flying Fish arrived at Valparaiso alone on 19 May 1839. It is assumed that Sea Gull foundered, taking her entire ship's company of 15 officers and men with her

Specifications:
Displacement 110 t.
Length unknown
Beam unknown
Draft unknown
Speed unknown
Complement 15

Armament two guns
Propulsion sail

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description		Contributed By
	408k	A modern rendering of the six vessels of the U.S. Exploring Expedition assembled at Orange Bay, near Cape Horn, in February 1839. Shown from the left are the schooner *Sea Gull* at anchor; the flagship USS Vincennes in the foreground, hoisting out her launch; the schooner *Flying Fish* under way, shifting her anchoring ground; the sloop-of-war USS Peacock with her hands furling sail; the brig USS Porpoise standing in and shortening sail, preparing to anchor; and the store ship USS Relief in the distance with her upper yards sent down, preparing to distribute provisions. Artist unknown. From "Sea of Glory: The Epic South Seas Expedition 1838-42" by Nathaniel Philbrick.		Robert Hurst
	144k	*Sea Gull* and the brig USS Porpoise in the vicinity of the South Shetland islands during the first Antarctic cruise of the United States Exploring Expedition. From the narrative, courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution Library, contained in the "Sea of Glory: The Epic South Seas Expedition 1838-42" by Nathaniel Philbrick.		Robert Hurst

Sea Gull (II)
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

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Last Updated 1 January 2015