USCS ''Bancroft'' was a

schooner A schooner () is a type of sailing vessel defined by its rig: fore-and-aft rigged on all of two or more masts and, in the case of a two-masted schooner, the foremast generally being shorter than the mainmast. A common variant, the topsail schoon ...

that served as a

survey ship A survey vessel is any type of ship or boat that is used for underwater surveys, usually to collect data for mapping or planning underwater construction or mineral extraction. It is a type of research vessel, and may be designed for the purpo ...

in the

United States Coast Survey United may refer to: Places * United, Pennsylvania, an unincorporated community * United, West Virginia, an unincorporated community Arts and entertainment Films * ''United'' (2003 film), a Norwegian film * ''United'' (2011 film), a BBC Two fi ...

, a predecessor of the

United States Coast and Geodetic Survey The United States Coast and Geodetic Survey (abbreviated USC&GS), known from 1807 to 1836 as the Survey of the Coast and from 1836 until 1878 as the United States Coast Survey, was the first scientific agency of the United States Government. It ...

, from 1846 to 1862. The Coast Survey purchased ''Bancroft'' in 1846 for $2,098.42 and placed her in service the same year. She operated along the United States East Coast during her career. ''Bancroft'' was at Beaufort, South Carolina, on the night of 22 December 1855 when a fire broke out which threatened to destroy the town. The officers and crew of ''Bancroft'' promptly joined others in fighting and containing the fire, and her officers received the thanks of the citizens of Beaufort for ''Bancroft''s quick response to the emergency. ''Bancroft'' was retired in 1862.

References

NOAA History, A Science Odyssey: Tools of the Trade: Ships: Coast and Geodetic Survey Ships: Bancroft
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bancroft (1846) Ships of the United States Coast Survey Schooners of the United States 1846 ships