John Purroy Mitchel (fireboat)

The John Purroy Mitchel was a fireboat operated by the FDNY.[1][2] She was named after former mayor of New York City, John Purroy Mitchel. Grace Drennan, niece of Fire Commissioner Thomas J. Drennan played a ceremonial role in the vessels launch on July 24, 1921. Her launch was also attended by current mayor John Francis Hylan.

The John Purroy Mitchel was the city's first fireboat powered by fuel-oil, not coal.[2] She was 132 feet (40 m) long, and her pumps could throw 9,000 gallons per minute, at pressure of 300 pounds per square inch. One of her water cannons was mounted on top of a 26 feet (7.9 m) tower.

The John Purroy Mitchel was built by Standard Shipbuilding Corporation, of Shooter's Island, and was budgeted at $220,000, but came in under budget, at $200,000.[1][2]

The vessel as still in operation in 1962, when the John Glenn joined the fleet.[3]

References
  1. "New Fireboat to Cost $220,000". New York Times. 1921-03-30. p. 8. Retrieved 2017-03-24.
  2. "FIREBOAT NAMED WITH WINE; The John Purroy Mitchel Is First Oil Burner in City's Fleet". New York Times. 1921-07-24. p. 21. Retrieved 2017-03-24. The new city fireboat, the John Purroy Mitchel, named in honor of the late Mayor, was launched yesterday at the plant of the Standard Shipbuilding Corporation on Shooters Island.
  3. "City's Latest Fireboat: The John H. Glenn Jr". The New York Times. 1962-03-10. p. 15. Retrieved 2020-06-01. There are eight fireboat's in the city's fleet and the Mayor's office customarily gives a short biography or explanation for the name chosen. The boats in service are: Senator Robert F. Wagner; Alfred E. Smith; John Purroy Mitchel; H. Sylvia Wilks; The Fire Fighter; and three craft named after Fire Department heroes-- Harry Archer, John J. Harvey and John D. McKean.
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