Introduction

Donald McKay (1810-1880) born in Nova Scotia, was a world famous United States based, sailing ship designer and shipbuilder.

In 1841, his first yard opened in Newburyport and moved to Boston in 1845. Donald McKay designed and built some of the most successful clippers ever built.

Clipper Ships designed and built by Donald McKay

• Champion of the Seas
• Flying Cloud
• Glory of the Seas
• Great Republic
• Lightning - (March 1854), Clipper, 237.5 ft x 44ft x 23ft, 2,084 tons, built by Donald McKay for James Baines of Liverpool for the Australia trade. Lightning was possibly the last really large extreme clipper to be built in USA. She was a fast ship and achieved many quick passages. In 1869, Lightning caught fire at around 0100 on 30 October at Geelong in Australia when fully loaded and ready to sail with 4300 bales of wool, 200 tons of copper, 35 casks of wine and some tallow. Unable to control the fire the decision was taken at around mid-day to sink her. The initial attempts were by cannon fire from the shore to try and hole her below the waterline but this was unsuccessful. At about 1600 some of the crew scuttled her by cutting holes on the waterline and she sank in 27ft of water.
• Sovereign of the Seas

Other Clipper Ships, Designers and Builders