Wilhelm Lund founder of the Blue Anchor Line launched his first ship the clipper ship Ambassador in 1869, he had owned 30 ships in total, 8 sailing ships, 20 cargo steamships and 2 small coastal steamers. The Blue Anchor Line ceased to exist after 1910 when all his remaining ships were sold to the P&O company after the tragic loss of his new ship s.s. Waratah which disappeared off the South East Coast of South Africa in 1909 with the loss of 211 lives. The company was wound up in 1912 by his eldest son Sydney who was a Stockbroker in Thread Needle street London. Sydney Lund was paid 200 pounds by the company for his services in this regard. All the ships are long gone and the company which was one of the most prolific in its time is now a faded memory. However their is still a reminder of this grand company in the skeletal remains of the Ambassador which lays on the beach at Estancia San Gregorio X11 in Chile, in 1973 the Chilean Government declared the Ambassador a national monument.
The Ambassador was 714 grt (692nt) 176ftlong x31.3ft beam x 19ft. she was a wooden clipper built on an iron frame known as a composite ship. She was built by John and William Walker at Rotherhithe near London. She took part in the great tea race for clippers in 1870 from Foochow in China and made London in 115 days, five days behind the famous Clipper Cutty Sark which was launched in the same year as the Ambassador.
Ambassador in her full glory.
Ambassador today at Estancia San Gregorio X11 Chile.
A sad end to a great ship.
The Ambassador was 714 grt (692nt) 176ftlong x31.3ft beam x 19ft. she was a wooden clipper built on an iron frame known as a composite ship. She was built by John and William Walker at Rotherhithe near London. She took part in the great tea race for clippers in 1870 from Foochow in China and made London in 115 days, five days behind the famous Clipper Cutty Sark which was launched in the same year as the Ambassador.
