In 1827, Walter Hobb was born in Montrose, Scotland, a port city alive with maritime activity. Walter was surely exposed to nautical influences at an early age in this small community where whaling and shipbuilding were important industries.
His sailing career culminated when he received the command of the British ship Western Empire in the spring of 1874, replacing a Capt. Totherick who had difficulties getting his sailors to work. After bringing the ship from Shields, England, another lively seaport, to Newcastle, Hobbs had proved himself capable of handling the 1,250-ton, wooden, sailing ship built for cargo capacity and speed.
His first commercial voyage took the Western Empire on its second voyage to Pensacola to purchase lumber that was much-needed in Britain. Pensacola in the mid-1800s was a thriving center for lumber, exporting 4.1 billion feet of lumber - with an approximate value of $50 million - between 1875 and 1895.
On March 6, 1875, Captain Hobb and the Western Empire left England for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He then departed Rio on June 7, 1875, and arrived in Pensacola by Aug. 16.
While in port, the job of loading the timber continued for several weeks. On Sept. 8, 1875, just after the loading of Western Empire was finished, Walter Hobb died.
While the cause of his death is not recorded, it is possible Hobb fell victim to the deadly yellow fever. Records indicate that many cases of yellow fever arrived in Pensacola from the South American ports where this disease, carried by mosquitoes, was rampant.
Pensacola was enduring a yellow-fever epidemic that had begun in June 1875, thus Hobb could easily have contracted the illness while in port. If Walter Hobb had succumbed to yellow fever, his illness would have included high fevers, pain, nausea, and possibly even hemorrhaging that caused bleeding from the nose, eyes, mouth, and stomach.
Walter Hobb was buried in Pensacola, far from family members who would have mourned his passing and tended his grave. After Hobb's death, the first mate, David Bertie, was promoted to captain to replace Hobb.
On Sept. 11, three days after Hobb's death, Western Empire sailed for England. Just seven days later, the ship foundered in a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico. It sank on Sept. 18, 1875. All of those aboard escaped into the ship's long boat. Seven of the 24 seamen were lost after the long boat capsized a few miles from safety.
On November 3rd, 1875 the ship was found about 30 nautical miles north of Jupiter Inlet-on the Atlantic. It had traveled over 500 miles unmanned!
When the ship and its cargo, together worth $62,000, sank, it took with it all records of Captain Hobb's fatal voyage. All that remains as evidence of Walter Hobb in Pensacola is the etched inscription on his marred gravestone.
His sailing career culminated when he received the command of the British ship Western Empire in the spring of 1874, replacing a Capt. Totherick who had difficulties getting his sailors to work. After bringing the ship from Shields, England, another lively seaport, to Newcastle, Hobbs had proved himself capable of handling the 1,250-ton, wooden, sailing ship built for cargo capacity and speed.
His first commercial voyage took the Western Empire on its second voyage to Pensacola to purchase lumber that was much-needed in Britain. Pensacola in the mid-1800s was a thriving center for lumber, exporting 4.1 billion feet of lumber - with an approximate value of $50 million - between 1875 and 1895.
On March 6, 1875, Captain Hobb and the Western Empire left England for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He then departed Rio on June 7, 1875, and arrived in Pensacola by Aug. 16.
While in port, the job of loading the timber continued for several weeks. On Sept. 8, 1875, just after the loading of Western Empire was finished, Walter Hobb died.
While the cause of his death is not recorded, it is possible Hobb fell victim to the deadly yellow fever. Records indicate that many cases of yellow fever arrived in Pensacola from the South American ports where this disease, carried by mosquitoes, was rampant.
Pensacola was enduring a yellow-fever epidemic that had begun in June 1875, thus Hobb could easily have contracted the illness while in port. If Walter Hobb had succumbed to yellow fever, his illness would have included high fevers, pain, nausea, and possibly even hemorrhaging that caused bleeding from the nose, eyes, mouth, and stomach.
Walter Hobb was buried in Pensacola, far from family members who would have mourned his passing and tended his grave. After Hobb's death, the first mate, David Bertie, was promoted to captain to replace Hobb.
On Sept. 11, three days after Hobb's death, Western Empire sailed for England. Just seven days later, the ship foundered in a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico. It sank on Sept. 18, 1875. All of those aboard escaped into the ship's long boat. Seven of the 24 seamen were lost after the long boat capsized a few miles from safety.
On November 3rd, 1875 the ship was found about 30 nautical miles north of Jupiter Inlet-on the Atlantic. It had traveled over 500 miles unmanned!
When the ship and its cargo, together worth $62,000, sank, it took with it all records of Captain Hobb's fatal voyage. All that remains as evidence of Walter Hobb in Pensacola is the etched inscription on his marred gravestone.
In 1827, Walter Hobb was born in Montrose, Scotland, a port city alive with maritime activity. Walter was surely exposed to nautical influences at an early age in this small community where whaling and shipbuilding were important industries.
His sailing career culminated when he received the command of the British ship Western Empire in the spring of 1874, replacing a Capt. Totherick who had difficulties getting his sailors to work. After bringing the ship from Shields, England, another lively seaport, to Newcastle, Hobbs had proved himself capable of handling the 1,250-ton, wooden, sailing ship built for cargo capacity and speed.
His first commercial voyage took the Western Empire on its second voyage to Pensacola to purchase lumber that was much-needed in Britain. Pensacola in the mid-1800s was a thriving center for lumber, exporting 4.1 billion feet of lumber - with an approximate value of $50 million - between 1875 and 1895.
On March 6, 1875, Captain Hobb and the Western Empire left England for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He then departed Rio on June 7, 1875, and arrived in Pensacola by Aug. 16.
While in port, the job of loading the timber continued for several weeks. On Sept. 8, 1875, just after the loading of Western Empire was finished, Walter Hobb died.
While the cause of his death is not recorded, it is possible Hobb fell victim to the deadly yellow fever. Records indicate that many cases of yellow fever arrived in Pensacola from the South American ports where this disease, carried by mosquitoes, was rampant.
Pensacola was enduring a yellow-fever epidemic that had begun in June 1875, thus Hobb could easily have contracted the illness while in port. If Walter Hobb had succumbed to yellow fever, his illness would have included high fevers, pain, nausea, and possibly even hemorrhaging that caused bleeding from the nose, eyes, mouth, and stomach.
Walter Hobb was buried in Pensacola, far from family members who would have mourned his passing and tended his grave. After Hobb's death, the first mate, David Bertie, was promoted to captain to replace Hobb.
On Sept. 11, three days after Hobb's death, Western Empire sailed for England. Just seven days later, the ship foundered in a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico. It sank on Sept. 18, 1875. All of those aboard escaped into the ship's long boat. Seven of the 24 seamen were lost after the long boat capsized a few miles from safety.
On November 3rd, 1875 the ship was found about 30 nautical miles north of Jupiter Inlet-on the Atlantic. It had traveled over 500 miles unmanned!
When the ship and its cargo, together worth $62,000, sank, it took with it all records of Captain Hobb's fatal voyage. All that remains as evidence of Walter Hobb in Pensacola is the etched inscription on his marred gravestone.
His sailing career culminated when he received the command of the British ship Western Empire in the spring of 1874, replacing a Capt. Totherick who had difficulties getting his sailors to work. After bringing the ship from Shields, England, another lively seaport, to Newcastle, Hobbs had proved himself capable of handling the 1,250-ton, wooden, sailing ship built for cargo capacity and speed.
His first commercial voyage took the Western Empire on its second voyage to Pensacola to purchase lumber that was much-needed in Britain. Pensacola in the mid-1800s was a thriving center for lumber, exporting 4.1 billion feet of lumber - with an approximate value of $50 million - between 1875 and 1895.
On March 6, 1875, Captain Hobb and the Western Empire left England for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He then departed Rio on June 7, 1875, and arrived in Pensacola by Aug. 16.
While in port, the job of loading the timber continued for several weeks. On Sept. 8, 1875, just after the loading of Western Empire was finished, Walter Hobb died.
While the cause of his death is not recorded, it is possible Hobb fell victim to the deadly yellow fever. Records indicate that many cases of yellow fever arrived in Pensacola from the South American ports where this disease, carried by mosquitoes, was rampant.
Pensacola was enduring a yellow-fever epidemic that had begun in June 1875, thus Hobb could easily have contracted the illness while in port. If Walter Hobb had succumbed to yellow fever, his illness would have included high fevers, pain, nausea, and possibly even hemorrhaging that caused bleeding from the nose, eyes, mouth, and stomach.
Walter Hobb was buried in Pensacola, far from family members who would have mourned his passing and tended his grave. After Hobb's death, the first mate, David Bertie, was promoted to captain to replace Hobb.
On Sept. 11, three days after Hobb's death, Western Empire sailed for England. Just seven days later, the ship foundered in a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico. It sank on Sept. 18, 1875. All of those aboard escaped into the ship's long boat. Seven of the 24 seamen were lost after the long boat capsized a few miles from safety.
On November 3rd, 1875 the ship was found about 30 nautical miles north of Jupiter Inlet-on the Atlantic. It had traveled over 500 miles unmanned!
When the ship and its cargo, together worth $62,000, sank, it took with it all records of Captain Hobb's fatal voyage. All that remains as evidence of Walter Hobb in Pensacola is the etched inscription on his marred gravestone.
Inscription
In Memoriam Walter Hobb Master of the British Ship Western Empire Born Montrose Scotland 1827 died at Pensacola Sept. 8th 1875
Gravesite Details
The Western Empire sailed on Sept.11th 1875 under command of the 2nd Mate. Bound for London, it was caught in a storm, the crew of 24 abandoned ship, 7 later drowned when the lifeboat capsized. The ship was found Nov,1875 Nth of Jupiter Inlet
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