It was built at Aberdeen, Scotland, launched in May 1869, and was wrecked near Lyttelton Harbour, New Zealand, in January 1888.
[1] May Queen, inward bound from London carrying 1,200 tons of cargo, approached Lyttelton Heads on 26 January 1888.
The pilot took the vessel too close to the south shore of Lyttelton Harbour, near Red Rock.
Rocks penetrated the hull, and boats from the port discharged most of the cargo before the ship became a total wreck.
The ship lies in 7 metres (3.8 fathoms) of water on the harbour floor, though is mostly buried in the sand and silt.