When I was in Mystic Seaport last October I looked up some info on the Crocket in their museum.
Apparently it was lauched there on 18 October 1853 and John Burgess, who as Malcolm says was the captain, lost his life overboard off the River Plate on his last journey before retirement on 25 June 1874. Now that's tough luck!
Any more useless facts, anyone?
"And Burgess is the captain of her ...!"
Alan