The Red Jacket, the undisputed queen of all clipper ships, described as 'the fastest & handsomest ship in the world" was built in Rockland, Maine in 1853. One of the largest clippers ever built, the Red Jacket carried on her bow a full length figure of the Seneca Indian Chief, orator & scout, Sagoywatha, whose nick-name, "Red Jacket" stemmed from the British coat that he often wore. On January 11th, 1854, Captain Asa Eldridge set sail with his crew on the Red Jacket from New York on her maiden voyage to Liverpool, England. The vessel and crew were deemed incompetent. However, the Red Jacket not only made it to Liverpool, but also broke the record time from New York to Liverpool, dock to dock, in the amazing time of 13 days, 1 hour and 25 minutes! No sailing vessel, has to this day, ever surpassed the record that the Red Jacket set!
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