EMPRESS OF CHINA leaving New York.
1784

Watercolor 14" x 21"


Before the American Revolution all American trade with the Orient was controlled by the British East India Company and heavily taxed. In fact it was partly these taxes that precipitated the famous ‘Boston Tea Party’. After winning their independence the Americans were eager to test international trade, and a Philadelphia syndicate was determined to be the first to give it a try. They purchased the newly launched ANGELIC, moved her down to New York in the fall of 1783, and renamed her EMPRESS OF CHINA. Here she loaded a cargo that consisted mainly of ginseng for trade in Canton.

The winter of 1783/84 was one of the severest on record, and the ship was trapped by ice in the East River until February 22. With ice still drifting in the river, she sailed on the morning tide. She arrived at Macao on August 23 1784, the first ship to visit China under American colors.