A US billionaire has chipped in to help save Dundee’s almost 200-year-old HMS Unicorn — one of the oldest ships in the world.
John Paul DeJoria, co-founder of Paul Mitchell hair products, has pledged £20,000 towards vital repairs which could cost as much as £1 million.
The attraction, docked at City Quay, is one of the six oldest vessels in the world and the oldest British-built warship still afloat.
The significant sum is needed to carry out work and relocate her to dry dock for further assessment.
Billionaire philanthropist
Mr DeJoria is worth an estimated $2.9 billion and is a well-known philanthropist who funds projects across the world.
The former US navy serviceman has a keen interest in historical ships and has also donated money to save MV Kyles, the oldest floating Clyde-built vessel in the UK.
He said: “Being part Scottish and custodian of Taymouth Castle (in Perthshire), it is only proper that I help save, with pride, our seagoing history.
“The HMS Unicorn is history.”
The entrepreneur is one of the signatories on Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffet’s ‘Giving Pledge’, committing billionaires to give the majority of their wealth to philanthropy.
Missing and rotten timbers
HMS Unicorn today is estimated to be 95% original to the one built in February 1822 and her condition is surprisingly good, according to surveying work.
But the sailing frigate’s age means moving her would be impossible until structural weaknesses are addressed.
Missing or rotten timbers would then need to be fixed with engineering works also needed to strengthen her weakest points.
The ship was gifted to the Unicorn Preservation Society in 1968 by the Ministry of Defence.
Museum director, Matthew Bellhouse Moran said: “The pledge from Mr DeJoria marks the start of our major fundraising programme to undertake the immediate repairs highlighted by our recently completed survey works.
“HMS Unicorn has gone from strength to strength, and we can now say we are in a position to progress with the next stage in the project.
“We are delighted that Mr DeJoria’s pledge has arrived just as we prepare to start our major fundraising campaign.”
Once complete, the next stage of the project will see her custodians seek funding to create a modern museum alongside it.
It would be part of a wider ambitious effort by Dundee City Council which hopes to transform the wider quay and develop marina facilities.
It comes after HRH The Princess Royal, Princess Anne, visited the ship at the end of September in her role as patron of The Unicorn Preservation Society.
The Unicorn was built at Chatham shortly after the great sea campaign against Napoleon, as part of a programme for re-equipping a battle-weary Royal Navy.
Her longest voyage, in 1886, saw her turned around so that a rapid- firing gun on her port side could be used to fire into the river for training purposes.
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