Albatros was an American-owned ship which brought to W. Price Hunt, partner of the Pacific Fur Company, at its Astoria post, news of the War of 1812.
Hunt had left Astoria on August 4, 1812 on a trading mission to Russia, where his ship Beaver was damaged by a storm in the Bering Sea.
Beaver's captain felt it was too dangerous to enter the Columbia River and return to Astoria, so the ship sailed for the Sandwich Islands for repairs.
[1][3] Upon his return, he learned that in his absence it has been decided to abandon the venture due to lack of supplies, the threat of the war, and competition from the North West Company.
Having decided to abandon Astoria, Hunt left to obtain a ship to remove the company's property and employees.