When Did They Stop Using Sailing Ships?

In 1807, Robert Fultons Clermont demonstrated the feasibility of steam propulsion for commercial use, but it also carried sail. The first steamship to cross the Atlantic was the American City of Savannah in 1819, which also carried sail. By 1870, the era of the ocean liner had begun, and the steady march of engine technology allowed steam to overtake the beautiful sailing ships.

Sailing ships are sea-going vessels that use sails mounted on masts to harness the power of wind and propel the vessel. There are various sail plans that propel sailing ships, employing square-rigged or fore-and-aft. Experimentation on steam propulsion continued, but steam-powered ships were required to still have sails. The Navy officially transitioned from sails to steam in 1873.

By the end of the 18th century, thanks to cumulative innovations to the sails and rigging of their vessels, commanders were able to contemplate actions that would have been considered suicidal earlier in the century. The Battle of Navarino in 1827 was the last to be fought by the Royal Navy entirely with sailing ships.

The idea of using a sail to move through the water changed the world forever. By the 1880s, steamships were able to compete in the vast majority of trades, with commercial sail continuing into the 20th century. By 1873, the Age of Sail for warships had ended, with HMS Devastation commissioned in 1871.

The early modern period, around 1500 to 1800, saw faster, more efficient steamships. The Navy officially transitioned from sails to steam in the late 1800s, and the first steamships began crossing the Atlantic Ocean in 1819.