Ocean Chief (clipper)

The Ocean Chief was a clipper ship built in Medford, Massachusetts in 1853 by Samuel Lapham. She was known for her speed and her service on the California and China routes.

She was of medium size for a clipper ship, measuring approximately 1,500 tons. Her design emphasized speed and cargo capacity. The Ocean Chief was characterized by a sharp hull and a full set of sails, typical of clipper ships of the era.

The Ocean Chief primarily engaged in transporting goods between the East Coast of the United States and San Francisco during the California Gold Rush period. She also transported tea and other commodities from China back to the United States. Her voyages were known to be relatively quick, often making the journey in less time than many contemporary vessels.

While details of the Ocean Chief's later history are sparse, it is believed she continued in service until the decline of the clipper ship era in the late 19th century. Her ultimate fate and disposition are not definitively known, but she likely met the fate of many clipper ships – either being broken up for scrap or repurposed for less demanding trades. She remains a notable example of the American clipper ships that dominated international trade in the mid-19th century.