The Hull whaler 'Abram'

The Hull whaler 'Abram'

Painting of a Lancaster-built ship which was used in the 'triangular trade' and subsequently refitted as a whaler.

Launched in Lancaster in 1806, Abram was named after a West Indian planter and merchant. She had a very long career, sailing initially to the British and Danish Virgin Islands of Tortola, St Thomas and St Croix. The documentary record of her voyages sheds light on the importance of these islands for trade with Liverpool and Lancaster merchants; their agricultural produce was produced by slaves working on plantations well beyond the date of the abolition of the slave trade in England.
As indicated by this image, Abram was refitted as a whaling ship. From 1819 she spent 42 years sailing regularly to the Arctic from Hull and later Kirkcaldy, usually picking up some crew members in the Shetlands. Abram was eventually crushed by pack ice in Baffin Bay in 1862.

James H. Wheldon (1832–1893) (attributed to)

Hull Maritime Museum

Lancaster University

Mid nineteenth century

Reproduced by courtesy of Hull Museums, who retain all rights over this image. No further reproduction is permitted without written permission of Hull Museums.

BBC Your Paintings website has a slideshow of other maritime paintings by Wheldon: http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/artists/james-h-wheldon

Nineteenth century

Painting