Historic District - North in Savannah in Chatham County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

The "John Randolph"

Photographed By Mike Stroud, January 2008

1. The "John Randolph" Marker

Inscription. 1834 1919
This tablet commemorates
The "John Randolph"
the first iron vessel seen in
American waters
Riveted together and launched here in 1834,
the plates having been made by John Laird
of Birkenhead, England, and shipped to this
port in sections
Built for Gazaway B. Lamar, Banker and Cotton
Merchant of Savannah
The same great iron shipbuilder
John Laird
built in 1862 the Confederate Cruiser
"ALABAMA"

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Landmarks • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1834.

Location. 32° 4.855′ N, 81° 5.474′ W. Marker is in Savannah, Georgia, in Chatham County. It is in the Historic District - North. Marker is on E Bay St near Bull St., on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Savannah GA 31401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Savannah (a few steps from this marker); Oglethorpe's House (a few steps from this marker); United States Customhouse (a few steps from this marker); John Wesley (within shouting distance of this marker); Savannah City Hall (within

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shouting distance of this marker); A Storeroom By Any Other Name (within shouting distance of this marker); Landing of Oglethorpe and the Colonists (within shouting distance of this marker); This is Yamacraw Bluff (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Savannah.

Regarding The "John Randolph". The SS JOHN RANDOLPH, American's first successful iron steamship in commerce, was launched in this harbor July 9, 1834. Prefabricated in Birkenhead, England for Gazaway B. Lamar of Savannah, she was shipped in segments and assembled here. She was 100' long 22' breadth. Unlike the SS SAVANNAH, she was an immediate commercial success in the river trade, and was the first of a great fleet of iron steamboats on the rivers of America.

Also see . . . John Laird. Laird built the paddle steamer John Randolph for Savannah, Georgia, stated to be the first iron ship seen in America. For the East India Company, he built in 1839 the HEIC Nemesis, the first iron vessel carrying guns. (Submitted on June 11, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)

The "John Randolph" Marker on left side of center arch, at Old City Hall image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, 2005

2. The "John Randolph" Marker on left side of center arch, at Old City Hall

The CSS <i>Alabama</i> image. Click for full size.

3. The CSS Alabama

Built by John Laird 28 years after the John Randolph.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 8, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 11, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,705 times since then and 37 times this year. Last updated on March 24, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 11, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.