THE ROYAL TAR · 1836–2026
Royal Tar 190th Anniversary
190 years later, the evidence is reexamined.
OCTOBER 25, 2026 · THE 190TH ANNIVERSARY
On October 25, 1836, the steamer Royal Tar caught fire off the Maine coast. Passengers and crew faced a disaster that would be told and retold for generations. Dennis Dorsey’s SJ23 Totality of the Circumstances returns to the surviving evidence to reconstruct the vessel, final voyage, animals, passengers and crew, fire, rescue and aftermath.
$64.95 · Free U.S. shipping
A disaster remembered. A record worth revisiting.
The Royal Tar was built in Saint John, New Brunswick, and sailed a coastal route through Eastport and Campobello toward Portland. When fire broke out on her final voyage, the U.S. Revenue Cutter Veto became part of the rescue effort.
This anniversary honors those aboard, those who were lost and those who came to their aid. It is also an occasion to examine what the records actually establish. Over 18 years, Dorsey studied and investigated contemporary accounts, vessel records, geography, engineering and underwater evidence to test a story often repeated without its full context.
What was the Royal Tar?
Her construction, machinery, ownership and coastal service help establish the ship behind the familiar story.
How did her final voyage unfold?
Route, weather, shelter stops and timing are examined together against contemporary records.
What happened during the fire and rescue?
Witness accounts and the movements of the Royal Tar and Veto are compared to reconstruct events.
Which claims have endured without support?
The book distinguishes documented facts from later assumptions, errors and folklore.
What does the surviving evidence tell us?
“Your book is just awesome! … Well done sir!”
September 2026 Appearances
September 9, 7 p.m. · Eastport, Maine
Author presentation at the Eastport Arts Center. This is a hosted event; contact the venue for attendance information.
September 11–13 · Eastport Pirate Festival
Meet author Dennis Dorsey and purchase a signed copy of SJ23 Totality of the Circumstances.
September 17, 5 p.m. · Castine, Maine
Author presentation at the Castine Historical Society. This is a hosted event; contact the venue for attendance information.
October 2026
October 22, 1:30 p.m. · Orono, Maine
Author presentation at The Inn at Dirigo Pines. This is a hosted event; contact Dirigo Pines directly regarding attendance.
October 23, 1–2 p.m. ET · Online via Zoom
Join the Maine Historical Society and Captain Dennis Dorsey for
The Story and the Tragedy of the Royal Tar.
Register for the Zoom presentation
.
Looking Ahead
April 3, 2027, 10:30 a.m. · Warwick, Rhode Island and Online via Zoom
Presentation for the Steamship Historical Society of America
on the 18-year investigation into the Royal Tar, the surviving evidence,
and the passengers and crew whose stories are central to the investigation.
SJ23 Totality of the Circumstances The Burning of the Royal Tar, 1836
A 342-page hardcover by Dennis Dorsey, tracing the story through original sources and modern investigative work.
Order a signed hardcover- Price: $64.95
- ISBN: 979-8-9956653-0-4
- U.S. shipping: free for the current direct-order offer
- International shipping: is available to selected countries. Customers are responsible for applicable customs duties, taxes, and VAT.
Bookstores, libraries and historical organizations: contact DiveQuest Exploration about stocking or ordering copies.