Nautical Art: Corsair!

Nice find, Dave.
She looks fast!

corsair

Hi Dave
the yacht you have the picture of is actually Corsair IV. Built by Bath Iron Works in Bath Maine around 1930. 343.'Steam turbines powered her. J.Pierpont Morgan and later his son Jack Morgan had a total of four corsairs over the years. Jack took over number three when his father died and later comissioned the one you have. In the 1050's she was going to be a cruise ship on the California to Acapulco run but ran aground and sank in Mexico. Her engines actually supplied power to Acapulco for awhile.
The Bath Maritime museum has a model and info on her. They might be interested in your piece if you wanted to donate it.

The history of the Corsair's make interesting reading.
she was launched right at the beginning of the depression so it was toned down behind closed gates for obvious reasons.

cliff

corsair

original launch

Corsair Painted Gray

Wonder how "Pelorus" or Tiger Wood's "Privacy" would look should the upcoming war with Iran (precipitated by a surprise attack on the US Navy?) necessitate a quick paint job - it's happened before:

"The Yacht Corsair was built in 1890 for J.P. Morgan, the internationally famous financier. J.P. Morgan was the head of the International Mercantile Marine Co., that had in its large Atlantic shipping fleet, the White Star Line and, of course, Titanic. Expensive yachts were the corporate jets of the late 19th century.

Corsair had a celebrated career both as the personal yacht of the philanthropist and as a commissioned ship in the U.S. Navy. During Morgan's tenure as commodore of the New York Yacht Club in 1897-98, Corsair served as flagship of that distinguished fleet. It is interesting to note that despite her great size (218'), she was by no means the largest yacht in the club. That same year, there were four vessels longer than 300 feet: W. K. Vanderbilt's Valiant (332 feet), Ogden Goulet's Mayflower (320 feet) and Nahma (306 feet), and Eugene Higgins's Varuna (304 feet).
After the destruction of the USS Maine in the Havana Harbor and the likelihood of war, the US Navy began scurrying about for a navy. Looking for fast yachts that could be armed and serve as gunboats, the Corsair II was one of the Navy's first choices. Morgan tried to stave off the Navy by promising to build another yacht for them but the Navy was adamant. In 1898, she was armed with 3 and 6-pounder guns, two machine guns, and renamed the USS Gloucester.
She joined the Blockading Squadron of the North Atlantic Fleet. At the Battle of Santiago Bay on July 3, she helped sink the Spanish torpedo boats Pluton and Furor. She was later credited with the single-handed capture of Guanica, Puerto Rico,(fourth photo below) and aided in the capture of Arroyo.

[On 25 July 1898, she entered the harbor before the fleet at Guánica, Puerto Rico, and captured the place for the Army. The handling and fighting of Gloucester merited the commendation of the Navy Department. As the Army was anxious to transfer the place of disembarkation to the harbor of Ponce, the Fleet was directed to proceed to Ponce to reconnoiter; capture all lighters found there; and occupy such positions necessary for holding the port until the arrival of the Army. On 1 August 1898, with assistance of Wasp, Gloucester took possession of Arroyo, and hoisting the U.S. flag, Lt. Comdr. Wainwright held it until arrival of the Army, a day later.

Subsequently Gloucester cruised along the Eastern seaboard from New York to Provincetown in the fall of 1898, and from 1899 to 1902 served as schoolship at Annapolis, Maryland. Recommissioned at Norfolk, Virginia 15 November 1902, she served as tender to the Commander in Chief, South Atlantic Squadron, and cruised to ports in the West Indies and along the east coast of South America.] (Guess Pierpont didnt want her back)

Following the war, Gloucester served as a Naval Academy training ship, and between 1902 and 1905 sailed in the West Indies and South America as tender to the Commander in Chief, South Atlantic Squadron. After service with the New York and Massachusetts state militias, Gloucester was recommissioned in 1917. Sold out of the service in 1919, she was wrecked in a hurricane off Pensacola, Florida."​

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Gloucester_(1891)
Frankly, I keep several gallons of Coast Guard grey on hand, and am looking for a good deck cannon - just in case the Secretary of War comes calling.
Anybody got a good second hand Herreshoff Cannon for sale?
http://www.thecannonstore.com/details.asp?prodID=HERPB
Cheers!
Eric

corsair

I said it was interesting reading obout the four "corsairs"!

Since the corsair II was off fighting,J. Pierpont was commodore of the ny yacht club with no yacht. He ordered another corsair (III) longer and with twin screws to better manuever on the river. He went to Europe and left a signed checkbook with his accountant to get the build done. It was to be identical to the previous yacht. The carpeting wasn't available anymore, so the mill tooled up again to run the exact pattern.

JP while at a function was questioned by a (New Money) individual about the cost of running and maintaining a yacht and gave the now famous answer, "If you have to ask the cost you can't afford it". Nothing changes!

cliff

corsair

photo of corsair III

a special find...

Dave, thank you for sharing such a unique find, made particularly since it has history in your family. Enjoy it always.