This clipper ship was one of Donald McKay's most famous creations. Glory of the Seas was also his last, for she was the ship that quite literally bankrupted him and left the famous builder without a cent, never to recover...
Built on spec and funded entirely by McKay himself, Glory of the Seas was launched at his East Boston yard in 1869. Nothing was too good for this ship. In fact the whole ship is one of superlatives and a reporter writing of her launching in the Boston paper waxed eloquent describing her as “a magnificent vessel... Her talented builder, Mr. Donald McKay, has produced many splendid vessels, but we consider this one an improvement on them all.” He went on to describe her “matchless beauty” further writing that she had “all the imposing majesty of a ship of war...”
She truely was a vessel of superlatives. The choicest mahogany, maple and the finest appointments fitted out her spacious cabins. The after cabin specially fitted with stained glass windows and a recess sofa on each side. The Southern Pine spars (the mainmast was 41 inches( over 1 meter) in diameter - try putting your arms around a stick that size!) were reported as being “without a blemish or knot.” 8000 sq. yards (6,700 sq.meters) of the best cotton duck went into her sails. Rigging was of the finest Manila hemp. The list is endless and McKay poured dollar after dollar into the ship confident that, with his name, he would readily find a buyer once she was completed.