RMS Tayleur was a short-lived, full-rigged iron clipper ship chartered by the White Star Line.

[4] She was named after Charles Tayleur, founder of the Vulcan Engineering Works, Bank Quay, Warrington.

[5] The new ship was chartered by White Star to serve the booming Australian trade routes, as transport to and from the colony was in high demand following the discovery of gold in Australia in 1851.

Tayleur left Liverpool on 19 January 1854, on her maiden voyage, for Melbourne, Australia, with a complement of 627 passengers and 25 crew.

On 21 January 1854, within 48 hours of sailing, Tayleur found herself in a fog and a storm, heading straight for the island of Lambay.

Captain Noble waited on board Tayleur until the last minute, then jumped towards shore, being rescued by one of the passengers.

When they reached the wreck, they found the last survivor, William Vivers, who had climbed to the tops of the rigging and spent 14 hours there.

On 2 March 1854, George Finlay, the chief boatman, was awarded an RNLI silver medal for this rescue.

The Board of Trade, however, did fault the captain for not taking soundings, a standard practice when sailing in low visibility.

When word of the disaster reached the Irish mainland, the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company sent the steamer Prince to look for survivors.

The wreck lies at 17 metres depth some 30m off the southeast corner of Lambay Island in a small indentation at 53°28′54″N 06°01′12″W / 53.48167°N 6.02000°W / 53.48167; -6.02000.