Richard Roberts (sea captain)

Richard Roberts (1803–1841) RN also known as Dick Roberts was an Irish sea captain, from Ardmore, County Waterford.[1] He entered the Royal Navy in his youth and served with them until he gained the rank of Lieutenant, and was given command of the SS Sirius. With Roberts at the helm, the Sirius became the first steamship to travel across the Atlantic to America, in April 1838. Shortly afterwards, he was transferred to the SS President, which was lost at sea in March 1841. Roberts is presumed to have gone down with the ship.[1] Actor Tyrone Power, great-grandfather of the Hollywood movie star, was also a passenger and perished in the President.[2]

Richard Roberts
Richard Roberts and The Sirius.
Born1803
Ireland
DiedMarch 1841 (age 37-38)
Atlantic Ocean; at sea
Resting placeAtlantic Ocean
Other namesLieutenant Roberts
Captain Dick Roberts
OccupationMariner
Years active?-1841
SS President, Roberts's final command and the one in which he lost his life.

Roberts loved the sea so, that he's quoted as saying "..I'd go to sea in a bath tub".[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Windele, J. (1846). Historical And Descriptive Notices of the City of Cork And Its Vicinity; Gougaun-Barra, Glengariff, And Killarney (PDF). p. 158. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 8 June 2010.
  2. ^ Famous Actors and Actresses on the American Stage, vol.2 K-Z p. 928 by William C. Young c.1975 ISBN 0-8352-0821-4
  3. ^ Great Ocean Liners, PBS television, c.1993

[Reference:- Journal of the Cork Historical & Archaeological Society Vol.1 (1895), 156]