Mary Celeste – The 1872 Ghost Ship Mystery
On 5 November 1872 the brigantine Mary Celeste left New York for Genoa with Captain Benjamin Briggs, his family and seven crew. On 4 December 1872 she was found adrift near the Azores, empty, with provisions and cargo intact, the lifeboat missing and no clear explanation for the abandonment.
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Our thoughts are with the families of Captain Briggs and his crew, whose fate remains a mystery.
Timeline
- 18 May 1861 — Launched as the brigantine Amazon in Nova Scotia.
- 10 June 1861 — Registered at Parrsboro, Nova Scotia.
- 7 November 1872 — Departed New York bound for Genoa with Captain Briggs, his wife, daughter and seven crew.
- 25 November 1872 — Last entry in the ship's log, dated 8 am.
- 4 December 1872 — Discovered adrift and deserted by the brigantine Dei Gratia near the Azores.
- 17 December 1872 — Salvage hearings began in Gibraltar.
- 25 February 1873 — Mary Celeste released from the Gibraltar court's jurisdiction.
- 8 April 1873 — Salvage award of £1,700 granted, lower than expected.
- 1885 — The ship was deliberately wrecked off Haiti in an attempted insurance fraud.
Frequently asked questions
What was found on board when Mary Celeste was discovered?
The ship was seaworthy, with ample provisions and an intact cargo of 1,701 barrels of alcohol. Personal belongings were undisturbed, but the lifeboat was missing, some hatches were open, and about three and a half feet of water were in the hold.
Why is the ship often called "Marie Celeste"?
The original name was Mary Celeste; the spelling "Marie Celeste" became common after Arthur Conan Doyle's 1884 short story popularized the variant.
Did the salvage court find evidence of foul play?
No. Although the court entertained theories of mutiny, piracy, or fraud, investigations found no convincing evidence, and the award reflected the lack of proof.
What natural phenomena have been suggested as causes of the abandonment?
Hypotheses include alcohol fumes igniting, waterspouts, submarine earthquakes, iceberg drift, and other extraordinary weather events, but none are supported by concrete evidence.
What happened to the ship after the 1872 incident?
Mary Celeste returned to service under new owners and was later deliberately wrecked off Haiti in 1885 as part of an insurance fraud scheme.
Primary sources and references
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