Cyrus (whaler)

The barque Cyrus was the British whaling vessel captained by Richard Spratly, namesake of Spratly Island and the group of islands and reefs known as the Spratly Islands. The Cyrus sailed during the 1840s. The Cyrus also transported valuable cargo between the South Pacific and Great Britain.^[1]

The vessel was owned by a man known only as "Mr. Joe".^[2]

This vessel should not be confused with the American whaler, the Cyrus of Nantucket, which sailed during the same era.^[3] A bill of sale in the Nantucket Historical Association Research Library shows that a whaling vessel named Cyrus had several owners and was registered in London in 1916.^[4] Several sources speak of a Cyrus and an incident at Pitcairn, but some call it a London whaler and others an American whaler.^[4] However, testimony from the crew confirms this ship was sailing elsewhere under a different Captain.^[5]

Crew

Circa. 1838–1844

• Captain Richard Spratly, Master^[1]
• Chief Officer George Cotton^[1]
• Second Officer William Spratly^[1]
• Dr. Francis Rankin, Surgeon^[1]
• Mr. William Heron, Cooper's Mate (abandoned in Keimes, Celebes 1841)^[1]
• Mr. Howland (abandoned in Keimes, Celebes 1841)^[1]
• Mr. Robson^[1]
• Mr. Brown^[2]
• Mr. George Lansdell^[2]

Possible location

There are a few whalers named Cyrus from the same era. Spratly's Cyrus may be one of these shipwrecks:

• On 23 December 1858 the Brig Cyrus took shelter from a storm off Cape Flattery, Vancouver Island. She anchored in Port San Juan, but her anchor chain broke and she was driven ashore near the mouth of the Gordon river.^[6]
• Hartlepool, England. 9 February 1861.^[7]

References