Hamilton (schooner)
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The Hamilton (originally the Diana) was a schooner which foundered at Lake Ontario on August 7, 1813, during the War of 1812. Two American schooners, the Hamilton and the Scourge, capsized in Lake Ontario in 1813 just outside of Hamilton, Ontario. [1]
The Diana was built at Oswego, New York in 1809 for merchant Matthew McNair. She found her way into the U.S. Navy on October 21, 1812, when she was purchased to be based out of Sackets Harbor. Her name was changed to Hamilton on November 5, 1812, in honour of the Secretary of the American Navy Paul Hamilton.[1]
The Hamilton was not large specialized war vessel; instead, she was a simple merchant ship that was pressed into service for the American Navy just prior to the War of 1812.[1]
With the conversion of the Hamilton to a man of war came problems such the decks not being strong enough to carry guns and the bulwarks not being high enough to give protection to the gun crews.[1]
The 76-ton Hamilton was armed with eight 18-pound carronades and one 24-or 32-pound cannon.
The Hamilton and the Scourge sank during a sudden squall off Fourteen Mile Creek near present-day Hamilton, Ontario around 2:00 am on August 7, 1813. The sinkings took more then 80 men to their death.
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