PS ''Alfred'' was a passenger

paddle steamer A paddle steamer is a steamship or steamboat powered by a steam engine that drives paddle wheels to propel the craft through the water. In antiquity, paddle wheelers followed the development of poles, oars and sails, where the first uses wer ...

that was launched in 1863. She was renamed ''Old Dominion'' in 1864, ''Sheffield'' in 1865 and ''Prince Arthur'' in 1867. The

London and North Western Railway The London and North Western Railway (LNWR, L&NWR) was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. In the late 19th century, the L&NWR was the largest joint stock company in the United Kingdom. In 1923, it became a constituent of the Lo ...

(LNWR) and the

Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (L&YR) was a major British railway company before the 1923 Grouping. It was incorporated in 1847 from an amalgamation of several existing railways. It was the third-largest railway system based in northern ...

(L&YR) acquired her in 1871 and operated her until 1877.

History

The

Bristol General Steam Navigation Company The Bristol General Steam Navigation Company provided shipping services between Bristol and ports in southern Ireland, principally Cork from 1821 to 1980. There were also services to other destinations including ports in southern England, south ...

ordered the ship from

Caird & Company Caird & Company was a Scottish shipbuilding and engineering firm based in Greenock. The company was established in 1828 by John Caird when he received an order to re-engine Clyde paddle-tugs. John's relative James Tennant Caird joined the company ...

Greenock Greenock (; sco, Greenock; gd, Grianaig, ) is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council areas of Scotland, council area in Scotland, United Kingdom and a former burgh of barony, burgh within the Counties of Scotland, historic ...

. She was launched on 31 October 1863. Before she was put into service she was purchased in May 1864 by George Campbell and Henry Collis, acting for the Virginia Importing and Exporting Company. She was renamed ''Old Dominion'' and used as a

blockade runner A blockade runner is a merchant vessel used for evading a naval blockade of a port or strait. It is usually light and fast, using stealth and speed rather than confronting the blockaders in order to break the blockade. Blockade runners usuall ...

. She arrived at

Wilmington, North Carolina Wilmington is a port city in and the county seat of New Hanover County in coastal southeastern North Carolina, United States. With a population of 115,451 at the 2020 census, it is the eighth most populous city in the state. Wilmington is the ...

on 28 June 1864 from

Bermuda ) , anthem = "God Save the King" , song_type = National song , song = " Hail to Bermuda" , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , mapsize2 = , map_caption2 = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = , e ...

, and sailed back on 15 July 1864. A second voyage from

saw her arrive on 10 August 1864 again in

. She was used in the blockade running until February 1865. She made six successful runs through the blockade. On her return to the UK, she was re-registered as ''Sheffield'' for the Liverpool and Dublin Steam Navigation Company. In 1867 Thomas Carr and Frederick Kemp acquired her and renamed her ''Prince Arthur''. In 1871 the LNWR and L&YR acquired ''Prince Arthur'' for their Fleetwood to Belfast and Londonderry service. In 1877 Thomas Seed bought her and registered her in Fleetwood. In 1883 Robert Bruce acquired her and registered her in Glasgow. In 1885 she was hulked.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Alfred 1863 ships Blockade runners of the Confederate States Navy Paddle steamers of the United Kingdom Passenger ships of the United Kingdom Ships built on the River Clyde Ships of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Ships of the London and North Western Railway Victorian-era passenger ships of the United Kingdom