Ploughboy

The Ploughboy was a Canadian steamer operated by Park & Company. In 1859 while on a cruise between Collingwood and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, the ship almost crashed into nearby rocks. If it had crashed, it would likely have claimed the life of Premier and future Prime Minister John A. Macdonald.An 1859 Perilous Event in the Life of the Steamer Ploughboy - John C. Carter - 5 July 2019 - The Wayback Times - Retrieved 4 March 2021How a cruise bound for the Sault almost killed Sir John A. Macdonald - 12 April 2020 - Soo Today - Retrieved 4 March 2021
== Design and description ==
The Ploughboy was built in 1851 by J.M. McDermott for William and Walter Eberts. The ship's side wheeler was constructed of wood and was 170 feet long, and 80 feet wide. It had a depth of 8 feet and a burthen of 450 tons. Her two propeller wheels were 24 feet in diameter, and her engine had been salvaged from the prior steamer Transit. Her crew numbered 16 to 20 members.
== Career ==
=== 1859 near shipwreck ===
On 3 July 1859, Upper Canadian politician Macdonald was aboard the ship when the engines failed.John A.: The Man Who Made Us: 1815 - 1867 - Richard Gwyn - Random House Canada - Published 2009 - Page 298 - Retrieved 4 March 2021 A gale formed and the ship began to be pushed toward the rocky shore, and the anchors dragged along the bottom for 12 miles before finally catching shortly before the ship would have hit the rocks.
A smaller boat was sent out that made contact with the vessel the Canadian, which arrived by 11 pm that night. The passengers of the Ploughboy transferred to the Canadian. Macdonald wrote a letter to his sister Margaret Macdonald in which he stated "My dear Margaret: You will see by the papers what a narrow escape we had. None of the party will again be nearer their graves until they are placed in them," noting, "the people behaved well, the women heroically."
Macdonald later rewarded fellow MP Angus Morrison for his bravery in assisting in the salvation of the ship with a large silver cup.
==References==
Category:John A. Macdonald
Category:Real ships
Category:Real steamers
Category:Real Prime Ministerial ephemera