Image: “Destruction of the Larboard Boat of the Ann Alexander, by a Sperm Whale in the South Pacific” (1851), courtesy of the MIT Museum.
In early June of 1850, the New Bedford whaleship Ann Alexander set sail on a voyage that would become one of the most famous in maritime history. More than a year later, while hunting sperm whales in the Pacific Ocean, the crew encountered a whale that fought back with extraordinary force. After destroying two whaleboats, the whale struck the ship itself, causing the crew to abandon the vessel. Thankfully, all aboard survived and were rescued by another New Bedford whaleship, the Nantucket. The incident became one of the most widely discussed events of the whaling era and remains a powerful reminder of the dangers faced by those who made their living at sea.
At the New Bedford Port Society, we are honored to preserve and share stories like that of the Ann Alexander, helping to keep alive the legacy of the mariners who sailed from New Bedford and ventured into waters around the world.