A terrible storm struck the boat carrying the Egyptian obelisk to London in 1878, leading to the death of six men
One of the oddest boats in history, a 28-metre metal cigar, was purpose built for one voyage, to carry an Egyptian obelisk from Alexandria to London. The 3,500-year-old 224-ton piece of granite was given to Britain in 1819 by the ruler of Egypt to commemorate the victories at the battles of the Nile and Alexandria.
The UK government, while pleased, was too mean to pay for its transport so it was not until 58 years later that benefactors and public subscription raised £15,000 to build a ship to house Cleopatra’s Needle and tow it to London.
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