Adventure (1792 ship)
Early American-built vessel on the Pacific coast.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Adventure was a 45-ton sloop built by the crew of Captain Robert Gray during his second maritime fur trade voyage to the Northwest Coast of North America. Launched in 1792 at Clayoquot Sound, it was an early American-built vessel on the Pacific coast, though not the first. After a trading voyage under Captain Robert Haswell, the ship was sold to the Spanish Navy and renamed Horcasitas, serving the Naval Department of San Blas.
- Final Operator
- Spanish Navy (as Horcasitas)
Lore & Background
The skeleton of Adventure was brought from Boston aboard the Columbia in 1790. At Clayoquot Sound, Gray's crew built winter quarters called Fort Defiance and began constructing the sloop. The keel was laid on October 3, 1791, on Meares Island. The ship was launched on February 23, 1792, after getting stuck halfway down the ramp. It was an early American-built vessel on the Pacific, though the North West America (1788) and Spanish ships on the Mexican coast preceded it.
Adventure set sail on its maiden voyage April 2, 1792, under Captain Robert Haswell, with a crew of twelve. It rendezvoused with the Columbia on April 17 to transfer 500 skins, then sailed north to Sitka Sound in Russian-America by July. After trading in the Queen Charlotte Islands, it rejoined Gray near Port Montgomery on September 3, 1792.
At Neah Bay, Gray sold Adventure to Spanish commander Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra for 75 sea otter pelts (or 72 prime skins, per John Boit). Bodega renamed it Horcasitas, after the family surname of the Count of Revillagigedo, Viceroy of New Spain. Command passed to Gonzalo López de Haro, and the sloop sailed in convoy to Monterey, California, departing Neah Bay on September 29, 1792.
Reader's Guide
Adventure represents a notable early American maritime venture on the Northwest Coast, built locally to access inlets too small for the Columbia. Its construction at Clayoquot Sound marked the first American-built ship on the Pacific, a milestone in Pacific Northwest maritime history. The vessel's sale to Spain illustrates the fluid transfer of ships between nations in the fur trade era, and its service as Orcacitas under the Naval Department of San Blas extended its useful life. The transaction, paid in sea otter pelts, highlights the central role of that trade in the region's economy. Adventure's brief but active career under Haswell, including a voyage to Russian-America, demonstrates the range and ambition of early American fur traders. The ship's story is preserved through logs and records of Gray, Haswell, and Boit, offering a window into the practical challenges and international dealings of the period.
Did You Know?
- Adventure was an early American-built vessel on the Pacific coast, but not the first.
- Its keel was laid on October 3, 1791, on Meares Island.
- The ship was sold to Spain for 75 superior sea otter pelts.
- It was renamed Horcasitas after the family surname of the Count of Revillagigedo.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Adventure (1792 ship)?
The Adventure was a 45-ton sloop constructed between 1791 and 1792 by the crew of Captain Robert Gray along the Northwest Coast of North America. It is recognized as the first vessel ever built by Americans on the Pacific coast.
Where and when was the Adventure launched?
The ship was launched on February 23, 1792, at Clayoquot Sound, during Gray's second maritime fur-trade expedition to the Northwest Coast. It was built entirely by the crew aboard Gray's vessel rather than in a shipyard.
Who captained the Adventure on its first trading voyage?
Captain Robert Haswell took command of the Adventure for its initial trading run. The vessel's original owner was Captain Robert Gray, who had commissioned its construction during his expedition.
What happened to the Adventure after its American service ended?
After completing its trading voyage under Haswell, the ship was sold to the Spanish Navy. It was renamed Orcacitas (also recorded as Orcasitas or Horcasitas) and assigned to the Naval Department of San Blas.
Why is the Adventure (1792 ship) considered historically significant?
The Adventure holds the distinction of being the first ship built by Americans on the Pacific coast of North America. Its construction during Gray's fur-trade expedition represents an early milestone in American maritime and commercial presence in the region.
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