We remember Parker Smith who tragically passed away during his time aboard the U.S. Revenue Cutter McLane. Parker originally was from Liverpool, England but crossed the seas and arrived in the United States in 1822. As he worked as a bosun, an officer in charge of the deck crew and equipment, Parker aided the U.S. Revenue Cutter McLane in fending off pirates and smugglers from his own ship and others. Unfortunately it was not just the rapid waters and privateers that made the ocean so dangerous, but the winds as well. On August 30th, 1837, just five years after it’s build, the ship fought vicious gusts due a tornado and capsized in Hadley Harbor resulting in Parker Smith inevitably drowning. Though Parker’s tale is tragic, we can still take away a key lesson that you can never predict what may occur out on sea.
Parker Smith
