The British ship FITZJAMES was built at Richibucto, New Brunswick, in 1852, by John James Jardine, for his own account. 1206/1307 tons (old/new measurement), readmeasured in 1861 to 1195 tons; 186 x 32.5 x 22.7 feet (length x beam x depth of hold). Build of hackmatack, birch, spruce, and pine; felted and sheathed with yellow metal; iron bolts. Sold in 1853 to Pilkington & Wilson (from 1857: H. T. Wilson & Chambers), owners of the "Liverpool 'White Star' Line of Australian Packets". Put in the North Atlantic trade after a projected voyage to Australia was cancelled; sailed from Liverpool on 8 November 1853 for New Orleans. 15 June 1854, first voyage, Liverpool-Melbourne. 24 January 1866, sailed from Liverpool for Melbourne; 14 February 1866, put into Lisbon after springing a leak; condemned as unseaworthy [Roy Anderson, White Star (Prescot, Lancashire: T. Stephenson & Sons, 1964), p. 186]. The annual volumes of Lloyd's Register of Shipping for 1853/54-1866/67 give the following additional information:

Master:
     1853/54-1856/57 - I. Hoyt
     1857/58-1861/62 - Hamelton
     1861/62-1864/65 - W. Forsyth
     1864/65-1866/67 - Wardrop

Port of Registration:  Liverpool

Port of Survey:
     1853/54-1856/57 - Liverpool
     1857/58         - London
     1858/59-1859/60 - [not given]
     1860/61-1864/65 - Liverpool
     1864/65-1865/66 - London
     1865/66-1866/67 - Liverpool

Destined Voyage:
     1853/54         - New York
     1854/55-1856/57 - Australia
     1857/58-1859/60 - [not given]
     1860/61-1861/62 - Australia
     1861/62-1863/64 - Callao
     1863/64-1864/65 - Quebec
     1864/65-1865/66 - South America
     1865/66-1866/67 - Australia