ON THIS DAY

December 26, 1852 - From the building yard of James Smith in Saint John, N.B., sprang Marco Polo - the “fastest ship in the world.” On this day, it earned its moniker as it returned to Liverpool, UK, from Melbourne, Australia. Cutting a week off the previous record run from England to Australia, the Marco Polo completed the round trip in less than six months. Alas, the ship ran ashore at Cape Cavendish, P.E.I., in 1883, while making trips for the Quebec timber trade. To learn more, visit the Historica Canada website at www.historicacanada.ca