The Denbigh was a paddle steamer built in 1860 by John Laird, Son, and Company at Birkenhead. She initially sailed between Liverpool and Rhyl, north Wales but was later sold an used as a blockade runner before being destroyed in 1865. History Denbigh was constructed in 1860 at the shipyard of John Laird, Son, and Company at Birkenhead, England, at a cost of £10,150. She was a fast ship for her time, recording in her proving trials. She was delivered to her owner, Robert Gardner of Manchester, on 26 September 1860, after which she operated the route between Liverpool and Rhyl, north Wales, for the next three years. In September 1863 the Denbigh was purchased by the European Trading Company – a partnership between the H.O. Brewer Company, a trading company of Mobile, Alabama, Confederate States of America, Emile Erlanger & Co., bankers from Paris, France, and J. H. Schröder & Co., bankers of Manchester. The company bought ships to run the United States' naval blockade of Southern ports. The United States Consul in Liverpool, Thomas Dudley, immediately noted the Denbigh and sent a report to the State Department which included the description: Schooner rigged, side wheel steamer "Denbigh" of Liverpool -- 162 tons. Captain McNevin Carriers -- Northe Dock for Bermuda & Havannah. Mose & Co. Cosignees. The following is her present description, subject to alteration: Built of Iron. Marked draft of water -- fore & aft. Hull painted black. Artificial quarter galleries. Elliptic stern. Straight stem. Name at the bows gilt, on a blue ground. Wheel; binnacle. House with skylight on top. Boat painted white in iron swing davits on port quarter. Boats painted white, abreast of mainmast. House athwartships between paddle boxes, with binacle on top. Funnell or smokestack painted black, with bright copper steam pipe after part of same. Side houses. Hurricane deck; foremast, through same. Masts bright; mast heads, top caps, crosstrees, bowsprit and gaff painted white. Inside of bulwarks & c. painted cream color. On her trial trip she attained the speed of 10½ knots. Her crew consisted of Captain, two mates, two engineers, six seamen, seven firemen, cook and steward. Sailed Monday Oct. 19, 1863 After almost two years of blockade running and 13 successful trips, Denbigh ran aground on Bird Key, off Galveston, where she was destroyed by Union naval vessels on 24 May 1865. Some members of Denbighs' crew Francis McNevin