Chile

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Chile

Post by shipstamps » Sun Sep 28, 2008 10:36 am


Two attractive stamps have been issued by the Chilean Post Office honouring William Wheelwright, master mariner, of Newburyport, Massachusetts, who set up a merchant business in Valparaiso. Wheelwright realised that there were great potentialities for trade in South America between the various republics and that the steamship was the ideal solution for coastal communication.
In 1835 Chile granted Wheelwright a monopoly for 10 years if he could run a steamship service between its ports within two years, with two 300-ton minimum vessels. Both the Peruvian and Bolivian Governments gave him a similar concession. Wheelwright returned to the United States for the necessary capital backing but, unable to obtain it, he proceeded to London, where he was more successful. Chile and Peru extended the time limit of their concessions, and The Pacific Steam Navigation Company was formed in London and given a Royal Charter in 1839 to carry out Wheelwright's plans.
Two paddle steamers, suitably named Chile and Peru, were built at Limehouse, on the Thames, by Curling and Young. The Chile was the first to be launched, on April 21, 1840; she was a copper-sheathed vessel of 700 tons, wooden hulled, with 190 h.p. side lever engines, and she sailed from Falmouth on June 27, 1840, for Rio de Janeiro. Both she and her sister ship left there on September 14 for the Straits of Magellan.
The two vessels were the first steamers to pass through the straits, and their welcome when they reached Valparaiso was unbounded. They were met with gun salutes, bands, flags and civic receptions. For the full story I recommend "Steam Conquers the Pacific" by my old and esteemed friend, the late Arthur C. Wardle, who was the official historian for The Pacific Steam Navigation Company's centenary history.
SG572/3 Sea Breezes 12/66

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