Today in History

November 20, 1820

The Sinking of the Essex

On this day in 1820, a giant sperm whale attacked and sank the whaling vessel Essex off of the western coast of South America. The survivors climbed aboard two life boats and made it to a small island. However, they soon exhausted the islands' food supply. To survive, all but three of the sailors climbed back into their boats to seek aid. Before long, their circumstances became dire, and the men resorted to cannibalism to survive. They were rescued after three months at sea. Writer Herman Melville used aspects of the story in his novel Moby Dick.

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