Niagara was a 65-foot (20 m) long sloop built in 1895 by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company in Bristol, Rhode Island for New Yorker Howard Gould.

The Niagara was built in 1895 by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company in Bristol, Rhode Island for $12,500 for prominent New York financier, Howard Gould,[1] a son Jay Gould, the enormously wealthy railroad magnate and financial speculator.

Her skipper was John Barr, the former commander of the Thistle, and a crew, which included sailors from the United States and Norway.

[2] Captain Barr returned to America in October 1895, leaving the Niagara at Fay's yards in Southampton for the winter.

[5] Gould returned to America the following month in November 1895 aboard the American liner SS St.