General Grant (sailing ship)

The General Grant was a three-masted sailing ship that wrecked on the western coast of Auckland Island, part of the New Zealand subantarctic islands, on May 14, 1866. The ship was named after Ulysses S. Grant, a Union general during the American Civil War and later President of the United States. She was en route from Melbourne, Australia, to London, England, carrying passengers and cargo, including a purported large quantity of gold.

The wreck of the General Grant is notable for its remote location, the high loss of life (only 15 survivors out of an estimated 83 people on board), and the persistent rumors of a substantial treasure lost with the ship. The survivors endured a harrowing 18 months on Auckland Island before being rescued.

Over the years, numerous expeditions have been mounted to locate and salvage the rumored gold, but the wreckage remains largely unrecovered, due to the treacherous conditions and the depth of the water in which the ship sank. The wreck and its surrounding area are now a protected historic site. The story of the General Grant continues to capture the imagination and inspire speculation about the fate of its supposed treasure.