Newspaper cutting about Captain MacKinnon and the `Taeping`.
Newspaper article about Captain MacKinnon of the `Taeping` who was admitted to hospital suffering from a `dyspeptic attack`
2006.114.3
Leave a Reply
Tag Archives: tea clippers
2004.86.1
Paperback book `Tiree Tales` by Fiona E. MacKinnon translated by Margaret MacKay, 1997.
A collection of 25 stories from Tiree by Fiona MacKinnon of Lodge Farm, Kirkapol and translated into Gaelic by Margaret MacKay.
2000.67.2
Audio cassette recording of a ceilidh with Angus and Nella Munn, Neil and Vivienne Johnston and Dr John Holliday in 2000.
Angus Munn and Neil Johnston talk about electrician and builder Angus MacRae who was the first man to install TVs in Tiree and had a shop in Baugh, the inebriate MacEwan who was a professional golfer, the 18-hole golf course in Scarinish, the crofts in Heanish, Angus’s relations in Heanish, Captain MacKinnon’s relationship to the Nisbets, John Munn and his shop and horse-drawn van, the puffer Mary & Effie unloading at Port a’ Mhuilinn and the fishing boats that used to sail from this harbour.
2001.173.2
Three pages of photocopied newspaper cuttings about Captain MacKinnon and the Taeping
Three pages of poor photocopies of newspaper articles about Captain MacKinnon (1827-1867) and the Great China Tea Race of 1866.
2001.173.3
Photocopied page of biographical notes about Captain Donald MacKinnon of Heanish.
Biographical notes about Captain Donald MacKinnon (1827-1867) of Heanish, winner of the 1866 Great China Tea Race.
2000.199.1
Audio cassette recording of Hugh MacKinnon, Baugh and Angus MacLean, Scarinish talking to Maggie Campbell in 2000.
Hugh MacKinnon of Baugh and Angus MacLean (Aonghas Dhòmhnuill Eòghainn Mhòr) of Scarinish talk to Maggie Campbell in 2000 about the people who used to live in Baugh, the ceilidhs they had at Christmas and New Year, the decline in population, emigration to Canada, the poorhouse, Drs Hunter and Buchanan, farms, horses, other livestock and crops, furniture and house cleaning, the quarry in Baugh, the airport and World War II, the Taeping, sea captains and the changes they’ve seen. Tha Eòghann ’Ic Fhiongain as a’ Bhàgh agus Aonghas Dhòmhnuill Eòghainn Mhòr a Sgairinis a’ bruidhinn ri Magaidh Chaimbeul ann an 2000 mu na daoine a b’ àbhaist a bhi a’ fuireach anns a’ Bàgh, na ceilidhean a bha aca aig àm na Nollaige ’s a’ Bhliadhna Ùr, an dol sìos air àireamh nan daoine, daoine fàgail an dùthaich a’ dhol do Canada, taigh nam bochd, dotairean ’Ic an t-Sealgair agus Bochanan, bailtean-fearainn, eich, beathaichean eile agus bàrr, àirneis agus glanadh taighe, an gairbheal anns a’ Bhàgh, am port-adhair agus an darna cogadh, an Taeping, sgiobairean agus an t-atharrachadh a tha iad air fhaicinn.
2004.13.4
Hardback book `The Tea Clippers` by David R. MacGregor.
Illustrated history of the tea clippers from 1833-1875.
2001.28.2
Colour scan of English poem by unknown author about the Great Tea Race of 1866.
Poem by unknown author found by Dr J G Buchanan of Coll and sent to the Editor of the Oban Times for publishing on 6/5/1949.
2001.31.1
Photocopy of a framed memorial to Captain Donald MacKinnon of the Taeping.
Memorial to Captain Donald MacKinnon of the `Taeping` comprising a number of obituaries from different newspapers.
1997.247.1
The tea clippers ‘Taeping’ and ‘Ariel’
Print of the tea clippers ‘Taeping’ and ‘Ariel’ competing in the Great China Tea Clipper Race of 1866.
Courtesy of Mr Donald MacKinnon
In 1866 London tea importers paid a premium of 10 shillings a ton for the first China tea of the season to arrive in London. On 30th May sixteen clippers left Foochow, including the favourite, the ‘Ariel’, and the ‘Taeping’, captained by Donald MacKinnon of Heanish and carrying almost 500 tons of tea.
As the boats raced home, the lead passed from one ship to another. As they reached the Lizard, the ‘Ariel’ and ‘Taeping’ were level. However, the shallower draught of the ‘Taeping’ allowed her to beat the tide and reach London Docks twenty minutes earlier than the ‘Ariel’, 16,000 miles and 99 days after leaving China.
The tea merchants of London were less than delighted to have such a glut of tea on the market and never offered the premium again. Captain MacKinnon returned to Tiree in glory but died the following year aged thirty-nine.