The Atahualpa was a 210-ton merchant vessel constructed in Kennebunk, Maine, and active in the early 1800s. It had a sister ship named Guatimozin, and both were owned by Theodore Lyman and Associates of Boston. The vessel was primarily employed in maritime fur trading, making six voyages that included extensive cruising along the Pacific Northwest coast, Hawaiian Islands, and beyond. Its design and construction details are not explicitly described, but as a merchant ship of its time, it was capable of long oceanic voyages and carrying significant cargo, including sea otter pelts, tails, cotsacks, and other furs. During its initial trading expeditions beginning around 1800, Atahualpa played a key role in the lucrative fur trade with indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest, sailing via Cape Horn and wintering at Nahwitti. Its first voyage yielded a notably large haul of 3,536 sea otter skins, surpassing the average at the time. The vessel continued trading along the coast into 1802, then voyaged to Canton (Guangzhou) to sell the furs, returning to Boston in 1803. The ship’s service was marred by violence in 1805 when it was attacked at Milbanke Sound by the Heiltsuk First Nation. Captain Oliver Porter and eight crew members were killed in what was described as a clash over perceived violations of Heiltsuk law. The attack resulted in a partial crew loss and subsequent efforts by nearby vessels to secure the ship and organize a return to Canton. Later voyages included trading under William Sturgis and encounters with pirates near Canton. In 1813, the Atahualpa was sold to the Russian-American Company, renamed Bering or Behring, and served under Captain James Bennett. Its career ended when it was stranded at Waimea Bay, Kauai, in January 1815 during a gale. The ship and crew remained stranded for two months until they obtained passage on the Albatross. The wreck and subsequent events are documented as significant episodes in early 19th-century maritime history, highlighting the vessel’s role in fur trading, international commerce, and early interactions between Western traders and Pacific Islanders.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.