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Shamrock
Shamrock, the name of six racing yachts owned by Sir Thomas Lipton (1850–1931). Lipton, who was born in Glasgow of Irish parentage, began his working life as an errand boy. He made a fortune in the grocery business, particularly tea. He was knighted in 1898 and created a baronet three years later. He conceived the idea of challenging for the America's Cup after Lord Dunraven's second challenge, in 1895, had created a lot of ill feeling in America, ill feeling which Lipton successfully dissipated while at the same time gaining publicity for his business. In 1899 Shamrock I, a cutter of 103 tons displacement with a sail area of 1,245 square metres (13,400 sq. ft), was beaten by the American defender, and Shamrock II, III, IV, and V suffered the same fate in 1901, 1903, 1919, and 1930. In 1908, during a hiatus in racing for the America's Cup, Lipton built an unnumbered Shamrock, a 23-metre International Metre Class yacht which raced in the British regatta circuit until she was broken up in 1933. Lipton's final challenger, Shamrock V, is still afloat as a classic yacht and has been restored to her original rig.
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Cite this article
"Shamrock." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Shamrock." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-Shamrock.html "Shamrock." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-Shamrock.html |
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Sir Thomas Johnstone Lipton
Sir Thomas Johnstone Lipton 1850–1931, Scottish merchant and yachting enthusiast. After spending several years in the United States he returned (1869) to his native Glasgow and opened a small grocery store. A pioneer in the art of publicity, he rapidly expanded his business and was a millionaire at the age of 30. He ran printing and paper works, set up several bacon-curing establishments in Chicago, and in 1889 acquired his own tea plantations in Ceylon (Sri Lanka). He was knighted in 1898 and was created a baronet in 1902. He made five attempts to win the America's Cup yachting trophy. His good sportsmanship endeared him to the American public, which gave him a gold cup after his last defeat in 1930.
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Cite this article
"Sir Thomas Johnstone Lipton." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Sir Thomas Johnstone Lipton." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-LiptonTJ.html "Sir Thomas Johnstone Lipton." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-LiptonTJ.html |
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