David Napier by David Napier and David Bell: Note 11
11. THE 'DUMBARTON CASTLE' AND 'BRITANNIA'
These Clyde steamers were in course of construction at the time Mr. Napier went to Camlachie, and both were launched in the beginning of 1815. They were similar in dimensions, about 84 feet by 16i or 17 feet, 109 tons; with double engines of 32 horse-power, supplied by Duncan McArthur & Co. The hull of the Dumbarton Castle was built by Archibald McLachlan, Dumbarton; the Britannia by John Hunter, Port-Glasgow. Both were subsequently lengthened and had new engines fitted of greater power.
The Dumbarton Castle was the first steamboat to ply from Glasgow to Loch Fyne; for some time she ran between Leith and Grangemouth, but was brought back to the Clyde, and was wrecked in 1829. The Britannia was the first on the Glasgow to Campbeltown route; she plied for a number of years on the Clyde, and thereafter went to Londonderry, and, by a singular coincidence, was lost off Donaghadee in the same year as her sister ship.
From the note that follows it will be seen that another Britannia was built in 1816 for the Holyhead service.