Chinese School, 19th Century

The iron full-rigger Thomas Blythe was built by Smiths at Preston in 1859 to the order of Blythe & Co. of Liverpool. Registered at 387 tons and measuring 135 feet in length with a 25 foot beam, she was employed in the South American trade until 1867 when, after being sold to D.W. Bain of Liverpool, she began sailings to the East out of London. Re-rigged as a barque in 1876 to save on crewing costs, she disappears from record around 1880.