The Hersilia was an American merchant vessel and the first from the United States to visit the South Shetland Islands.

During its second voyage it was seized by Vicente Benavides, a Royalist commander in the Chilean War of Independence, who ordered its destruction late in 1821.

Back in its Connecticut home port, the crew of the Hersilia quickly spread news of the recently discovered South Shetland Islands.

The Fanning family organised a small fleet with fellow Stonington merchants to exploit the large seal populations there.

Benavides was a royalist guerrilla leader in the Chilean War of Independence and was based out of the nearby Arauco.

[6] When the Americans finally reached Valparaíso, Sheffield held a conversation with the British commodore in charge of the South America Station, Sir Thomas Hardy.

Prior to leaving, his troops set fire to the Hersilia and various buildings in town, including the storehouses containing the seal pelts previously gathered by Sheffield's men.

[7] The remaining Americans that didn't previously escape the Royalist camp were found and rejoined their compatriots.