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Todd, John, (1840-1899), cargo ship captain, traveller, author

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Surname: Todd
Forenames: John
Gender: Male
Date: 1840-1899
History: John Todd (1840-1899) was born in London. The family soon moved north to Sunderland, where his father was employed as shipping agent to the Lambton Estate. Todd went to sea at the age of 15, eventually gaining his Master's ticket. As a young seaman he travelled widely and had many adventures, which are recounted in considerable detail in his memoirs. After his marriage in 1872 he took a more settled post with the Lambton Company, captaining colliers between Sunderland, France and northern Spain. He died in 1899 in the wreck of his ship 'Heathpool' off Beachy Head. Todd's unpublished autobiography was written in 1886, a few years after most of his earlier writings were lost in a shipwreck. He also wrote a book on 'Practical Seamanship' (1890), and a biography of local naval hero Jack Crawford (1889), and wrote extensively to the press, mainly on maritime matters.
Places:
  • London
  • Sunderland, Tyne and Wear
Name authority reference: GB/NNAF/P233050
Collections
Number Description Held by Reference Further information
1
c1870-1895: memoir and notes, presscutting album, transcripts of memoir and articles by G Patterson
Tyne and Wear Archives
DF.TOD
See Annual Return 2012