1884

The Governor R.M. McLane was built for the Maryland State Police Oyster Navy and named after Robert Milligan McLane, Governor of Maryland from January 1884 to March 1885. The Oyster Navy was formed in 1867 in order to enforce fishery laws on the Chesapeake Bay.

During the Oyster Wars, the Gov. R.M. McLane engaged in armed exchanges on many occasions with the renegade oystermen who were determined to dredge as many oyster beds as they could regardless of the laws.

Her other uses include service as an inspection tug, a towboat and a personal passenger boat for Governor Albert Ritchie. She was rebuilt by Spedden shipyard in 1920 after a fire than all but destroyed her. She was eventually abandoned in 1954 and sunk in the waters of the Inner Harbor, right outside of the present day location of the Baltimore Museum of Industry.

Built — Neafie & Lev, Philadelphia, 1884
Weight — 144 tons
Length — 113.8 feet
Design — Single Deck, Two Masted, Round Stern (Hull-Iron)
Beam — 21.1 feet
Draft — 9.2 feet

Flagship of the Maryland Oyster Navy, 1884-1931.
Commissioned United States Navy during WWI and WWII

[Side of



marker:]
The Gov. R.M. McLane is best known as the flagship of the Maryland Oyster Police Navy from 1884 to 1931. She proved to be an effective vessel during the Chesapeake Bay Oyster Wars.

Sorry, but we don't have a picture of this historical marker yet. If you have a picture, please share it with us. It's simple to do. 1) Become a member. 2) Adopt this historical marker listing. 3) Upload the picture.

Show me all markers in:  

Bethlehem Steel Shipyard Crane
Knabe Piano Factory Cupola
Steam Tug Baltimore
Working Point
Working Point by David Hess
Platt and Company Oyster Packers
Platt and Company Oyster Packers
Raymond R. Allen Court, a War Memorial
Fort Look-Out
Strategic Post

• GPX
• KML
• LOC

Have you seen this marker? If so, check in and tell us about it.