November 22nd , 1869
In Dumbarton, Scotland the clipper ship Cutty Sark (Scots for short shirt) which was built by the firm of Scott & Linton, for Captain John Willis is launched. It was one of the last clipper ships to be built, and the only one surviving to the present
The Cutty Sark, a famous British clipper ship, was launched on November 22, 1869. The ship was designed for the China tea trade but also engaged in various other cargoes, including carrying wool from Australia to England.
Built on the River Leven, Dumbarton, Scotland in 1869 for the Jock Willis Shipping Line, she was one of the last tea clippers to be built and one of the fastest, at the end of a long period of design development for this type of vessel, which ended as steamships took over their routes.
Designed by Hercules Linton and built by the firm of Scott & Linton in Dumbarton, Scotland, the Cutty Sark is renowned for its sleek design and exceptional speed. It is one of the last surviving tea clippers and has become a popular maritime museum located in Greenwich, London.
The ship’s name, “Cutty Sark,” is derived from the poem “Tam o’ Shanter” by Robert Burns, where “Cutty Sark” refers to a short nightdress worn by a witch. The ship’s figurehead represents the witch Nannie Dee from the poem.
Today, the Cutty Sark is a prominent attraction, allowing visitors to explore and learn about the golden age of sail and maritime history.
