George IV on Board the 'Lightning', the first post office steam packet to Dublin, 12 August 1821
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George IV on Board the 'Lightning', the first post office steam packet to Dublin, 12 August 1821
At the end of May 1821, after some reluctance, the Post Office introduced the first two steam mail-packets, 'Lightning' and 'Meteor', at Holyhead to carry the mails and passengers to Dublin. In the year following his accession, King George IV paid a state visit to Ireland. He sailed as far as Holyhead on the royal yacht, 'Royal George', when he met contrary winds. So he took the unprecedented step of transferring to the steam-packet 'Lightning', setting sail on 7 August.
William John Huggins
- Image reference: BHC0619
- National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
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