SS George Wythe was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. She was named after Founding Father George Wythe, the first American law professor, a noted classics scholar, and a Virginia judge. The first of the seven Virginia signatories of the United States Declaration of Independence, Wythe served as one of Virginia's representatives to the Second Continental Congress and the Philadelphia Convention. Wythe taught and was a mentor to Thomas Jefferson, John Marshall, Henry Clay and other men who became American leaders.
History | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Name | George Wythe |
Namesake | George Wythe |
Owner | War Shipping Administration (WSA) |
Operator | Agwilines Inc. |
Ordered | as type (EC2-S-C1) hull, MCE hull 24 |
Awarded | 14 March 1941 |
Builder | Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard, Baltimore, Maryland[2] |
Cost | $1,236,111[1] |
Yard number | 2011 |
Way number | 11 |
Laid down | 22 September 1941 |
Launched | 28 March 1942 |
Sponsored by | Miss Geanne A. Culleton |
Completed | 9 May 1942 |
Identification | |
Fate | Sold for scrapping, 24 July 1970 |
General characteristics [3] | |
Class and type |
|
Tonnage | |
Displacement | |
Length | |
Beam | 57 feet (17 m) |
Draft | 27 ft 9.25 in (8.4646 m) |
Installed power |
|
Propulsion |
|
Speed | 11.5 knots (21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph) |
Capacity |
|
Complement | |
Armament |
|
Bauwesen
editGeorge Wythe was laid down on 22 September 1941, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MCE hull 24, by the Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard, Baltimore, Maryland; sponsored by Miss Geanne A. Culleton, the daughter of C.J. Culleton, the resident plant auditor at the Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard, and was launched on 28 March 1942.[2][1]
History
editGeorge Wythe was allocated to Agwilines Inc., on 9 May 1942. On 8 January 1948, she was laid up in the Hudson River Reserve Fleet, Jones Point, New York. On 21 April 1952, she was laid up in the James River Reserve Fleet, Lee Hall, Virginia. On 7 August 1953, George Wythe was withdrawn from the fleet to be loaded with grain under the "Grain Program 1953", she returned loaded on 22 August 1953. On 13 February 1956, she was withdrawn to be unload, she returned empty 29 February 1956. On 7 November 1958, George Wythe was withdrawn from the fleet to be loaded with grain under the "Grain Program 1958", she returned loaded on 21 November 1958. On 7 March 1959, she was withdrawn to be unload, she returned empty 19 March 1959. She was sold for scrapping on 24 July 1970, to Hierros Ardes, SA, for $102,666. George Wythe was removed from the fleet, 31 August 1970.[4]
References
editBibliography
edit- "Bethlehem-Fairfield, Baltimore MD". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 14 August 2008. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
- Maritime Administration. "George Wythe". Ship History Database Vessel Status Card. U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
- Davies, James (May 2004). "Specifications (As-Built)" (PDF). p. 23. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
- "SS George Wythe". Retrieved 18 February 2020.