Background
George Steers was born in Washington District of Columbia, United States of America, in 1819. His father, Henry Steers, was engaged as Naval Constructor for the United States. Government.
George Steers was born in Washington District of Columbia, United States of America, in 1819. His father, Henry Steers, was engaged as Naval Constructor for the United States. Government.
George never learned the trade of ship carpenter, but rather built vessels based on the design concepts he worked out for himself in his youth, growing up as a shipbuilder"s son. He became a journeyman for William H. Brown, in whose service he assisted in building the Arctic and another of the Collins steamers. Between 1841 and 1850, Steers built many yachts which were well known in their day.
Number doubt influenced by the ship designs of fellow New Yorker John West Griffiths, the aptly named America established the American naval architecture of the day.
He also built one full-sized ship, the clipper ship Sunny South, which was sold to foreign owners after a voyage around Cape Horn to San Francisco, and captured in the Mozambique Channel in 1860 with a cargo of over 800 slaves. He was only 37 years old.
He had just negotiated for $1,000,000 worth of boats for the Czar of Russia. He left a son behind him.
His last ship was the United States Ship Niagara.
A procession of 800 citizens was followed by lodges of the Masonic Order, including the Mariner"s Lodge (400 men), and 70 carriages of friends and relatives. Steers is interred at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New New York
