WILLIAM BRADFORD (1823-1892)

Built in South Boston and launched in 1851, the Northern Light journeyed between Boston and San Francisco. She held the record for the fastest time from San Francisco to Boston in 1853. The ship left San Francisco on March 13th and arrived in Boston on May 29th of that year. The Northern Light held this record for 140 years, until it was finally surpassed in 1993. She sank in 1861 after a collision. This works was formerly attributed to Fitz Hugh Lane (1804-1865), but the signature of William Bradford has since been discovered.