Forfarshire (ship)

The Forfarshire was a British paddle steamer that was wrecked on the Farne Islands off the coast of Northumberland, England, on 7 September 1838. The ship, en route from Hull to Dundee, encountered a severe storm and struck Harker's Rock.

The wreck and the heroic rescue efforts of Grace Darling and her father, the lighthouse keeper William Darling, became a celebrated event in Victorian Britain. The Darlings braved treacherous seas in a small rowing boat to rescue nine survivors from the wreck, their bravery attracting national and international acclaim.

The Forfarshire was built in Dundee in 1834. The disaster exposed deficiencies in the ship's construction and maintenance, as well as raising concerns about the adequacy of safety measures for passenger vessels at the time. An official inquiry followed the wreck. The incident contributed to increased public awareness of maritime safety and helped to spur improvements in shipbuilding practices and emergency procedures.