A selection of paintings, drawings & jottings
This narrative is sourced primarily from two documents.
A Full Account Of The Late Ship-wreck
Of The Ship Called President
A contemporary broadsheet and a ripping yarn to boot.
I have a transcript but no idea who owns the copyright.
The Wreck Of The President 1684
A detailed & thoroughly researched report
by Andrea Cordani which, although I have a full copy,
is also alas not mine to publish.
Additional facts, indications, leads and clues
came from a large number of diverse sources
encountered during my association with the
President Archaeological Expedition around
the year 2000.
Keel:
Beam:
Berthen:
Cannons:
Crew:
96’2”
36’6”
550 tons
36
120
This narrative and all associated images are copyright © 2025 Chris Chapman.
All rights reserved. Please do not reproduce any part without permission.
"On reading a petition of the widows of the seamen belonging to the ship President cast away on the coast of Cornwall that consideration might be had of them and their fatherless children, the Court were pleased in consideration of their distressed condition of the relations of the said ship’s company to order the sum of £500 be given for their relief. And it is referred to the Committee for Shipping to examine the particular condition of each widow and of each child and children of such ye said officers and mariners as were killed or wounded in ye engagement on the coast of India and of those who were drowned in ye said ship and to make such a distribution of ye said £500 amongst them as they in their judgment shall think fit,"
Minutes of the Court of Committee held on 7th May 1684
The images in this section are of a 3D digital model of
the ship created in 1999-2000 using Lightwave software