Great Republic is launched.

Some 30,000 [50,000-MM] witness the ship’s launch from Donald McKay’s shipyard. The largest wooden ship in the world at the time (4,555 tons and 335 feet), it is the largest ever built by McKay. Because shareholders in the company that owns it are temperance advocates, the ship is christened with a bottle of water from Lake Cochituate. Prior to its maiden voyage from New York harbor, the ship is badly damaged by a fire on December 26, 1853. Rebuilt and reduced to 3,357 tons, it finally sails on February 21, 1855.