14 Facts About Owen Chase

Owen Chase was first mate of the whaler Essex, which a sperm whale rammed and sank on November 20,1820.

Owen Chase was born in Nantucket, Massachusetts, the son of Phebe and Judah Owen Chase.

The closest known islands, the Marquesas, were more than 1,200 miles to the west and the captain of Essex, George Pollard, intended to make for them but the crew, led by Owen Chase, feared the islands might be inhabited by cannibals and voted to make for South America.

In December 1821 Owen Chase signed on as first mate on the whaler Florida which sailed on December 20 from New Bedford, Massachusetts, the crew list contains the only extant physical description of Owen Chase; 24 years old, five feet 10 inches, dark complexioned and brown haired.

Owen Chase was again greeted by a daughter he had never seen, 18-month-old Lydia.

Nine months later Owen Chase married Nancy Joy, the widow of Matthew Joy who was the first of the Essex survivors to die.

Two months later Owen Chase sailed again, as captain of the Winslow.

Relatively wealthy from his successful whaling voyages, Owen Chase now stayed in Nantucket for two years to supervise the construction at the Brant Point shipyards of his own whaler, the Charles Carrol, which sailed on October 10,1832, for a three and a half year voyage.

Nine months into the voyage, Owen Chase's wife gave birth to a daughter named Adeline.

The Charles Carrol docked at Holmes Hole on February 15,1840, where Owen Chase left the ship and traveled to Nantucket.

Two months after the divorce was finalized, Owen Chase married for the fourth and final time to Susan Coffin Owen Chase.

Later in his life, Owen Chase began hiding food in the attic of his Nantucket house on Orange Street and was eventually institutionalized.

Owen Chase remained there for an estimated 8 years and was released.

Owen Chase died on March 7,1869, and is buried in the New North Cemetery in Nantucket with two of his wives, Peggy and Nancy.