BUILT IN THE FAMOUS BLACKWALL YARDS OF R. & H. GREEN, FROM WHERE SO MANY NOTABLE SHIPS HAVE EMANATED, THE MAJESTIC RENOWN WAS DESIGNED FOR THE AUSTRALIAN TRADE AND LAUNCHED IN 1860. A LARGE FULL-RIGGER CONSTRUCTED OF "TEAK, OAK AND ELM, COPPER-FASTENED AND SHEATHED WITH RED COPPER", SHE WAS ONE OF THOSE TYPICAL GREEN SHIPS OF THE MID-NINETEENTH CENTURY, MORE FRIGATE THAN MERCHANTMAN AND WITH THE LOOK OF AN EAST INDIAMAN FROM THE PREVIOUS GENERATION. REGISTERED AT 1,293 TONS GROSS (1,133 UNDER-DECK), SHE MEASURED 214½ FEET IN LENGTH WITH A 38 FOOT BEAM AND WAS, IN FACT, OWNED AND OPERATED BY GREEN'S, HER BUILDERS, FOR MOST OF HER WORKING LIFE. ALTHOUGH INTENDED FOR THE AUSTRALIAN RUN, SHE ALSO DID A NUMBER OF VOYAGES TO INDIA, ONE SUCH BEING IN 1864 WHEN SHE WAS UNLUCKY ENOUGH TO BE CAUGHT IN THE NOTORIOUS CALCUTTA CYCLONE ON 5^TH OCTOBER. THE FIERCEST CYCLONE IN THE REGION SINCE 1842, SHIPS LYING IN THE HOOGHLY BEGAN TO BREAK FREE OF THEIR LINES SOON AFTER NOON. AS BASIL LUBBOCK STATES IN THE BLACKWALL FRIGATES (PUBL. 1924), "ABOUT 200 SEA-GOING SHIPS WENT ADRIFT AND ALL BUT A DOZEN OF THESE PILED UP ON THE SHORE..THE RENOWNAND MANY OTHERSWERE ALL STRANDED AND BADLY DAMAGED..CHURCH STEEPLES BUCKLED AND FELL; ROOFS LIFTED OFF AND TOOK WING;...WHILST WELL STAYED TOPGALLANT AND ROYAL MASTS CRACKED LIKE CARROTS." MANY A SHIP WAS EXTREMELY FORTUNATE TO HAVE SURVIVED, RENOWN AMONGST THEM, BUT SHE WAS SOON REPAIRED AND ABLE TO RETURN TO SEA WHERE SHE CONTINUED TO WEAR GREEN'S COLOURS UNTIL 1882 WHEN THEY SOLD HER TO BOLLAND & KLEINSCHMIDT OF BREMEN. RE-REGISTERED IN HER NEW HOMEPORT, HER CAREER UNDER THE GERMAN FLAG PROVED SHORT-LIVED AND SHE WAS WRECKED IN 1885.