Official No. 54570; Code Letters HPVS: thought to be the first well deck steamer built.

Owners: George Pyman & Co, West Hartlepool; 1875 George Pyman & Co (TE Pyman mgr/owner) West Hartlepool.

Masters: 1867-68 Thomas A Pyman:;1869 Luty; 1869-70 Bowden; 1871 Mackenzie; 1872 Danby; 1872 McKenzie; 1873-74 J Brotchie; 1875-77 R Humphrey; March 1878 Sunley; 1878 Robinson; December 1878 Smith; 1879 Robinson.

Bound from Galatz for Leghorn with a valuable cargo of grain & a crew of 12 Lizzie English went ashore on a dark night with a heavy sea near Keraburnow, 21 miles from the Bosphorus, on 20 September 1879. The Garipole light was seen but was mistaken for the lightship at the entrance to the Bosphorus which was why they stranded. The crew remained aboard for about 18 hours until a gale sprang up & it was decided to abandon the vessel. They left in three boats of which two reached shore but the third was smashed by the heavy surf throwing the seven occupants into the boiling sea. Samuel Palmer risked his life by swimming through the surf & dragging John Long to safety. He then went back into the water & saved William Nilsson. Both men were brought to shore unconscious but recovered. The remaining five all drowned. Lizzie English was seen to go to pieces soon after.

The survivors were taken to Constantinople where an inquiry into the casualty was held. This resulted in the master’s certificate being suspended for six months & the mate’s certificate being cancelled.

On the recommendation of the British Consul at Constantinople in December 1879 Captain Samuel Palmer of the International Lifeboat Service was awarded the Royal Humane Society medal for plunging into the sea & rescuing two of the crew of Lizzie English.