Narrative of the Most Extraordinary and Distressing Shipwreck of the Whale-ship Essex - Softcover

OWEN CHASE (1797-1869) was the first mate of the whaling ship Essex, from Nantucket, Massachusetts. The second-youngest member on board, Chase was only 21 when the boat left on a two-year whaling journey in 1819 that resulted in months of shipwreck in 1820. Chase was one of only eight survivors and wrote his account of the experience the following year. Chase returned to sailing in 1821 and continued until 1840, when he finally retired. Memories of the Essex tragedy haunted him for the rest of his life, and he was eventually institutionalized due to the effects.