Clipper ships were a type of sailing vessel that were popular in the mid-19th century, particularly during the 1850s and 1860s.
The origin of the term “clipper ship” in naval architecture is disputed. But the consensus is that the Baltimore Clipper was the first vessel to employ that name.
Clipper ships were built for speed, allowing them to "clip" through the water at high speeds.
The East India Company employed fast clippers to keep a constant supply of goods between India and other countries.
The clipper ships era was dominated by American shipbuilders, who were able to build ships faster and cheaper than their British counterparts.
With the advent of steamships, which were faster and could sail against the wind, the demand for clipper ships began to decline.
Clipper ships were not only a means of transportation but also a symbol of a bygone era, a time of adventure and danger on the high seas.