The Wreck of the Hospital Ship Saint Paul on the Meðalland Sands in 1899

The French hospital ship Saint Paul was among the most impressive vessels to appear in Icelandic waters before the turn of the 20th century. It was a three‑masted ship that ran aground on its third voyage to Iceland in 1899. The elegant ship naturally drew considerable attention as it lay stranded on the sands of Meðalland, an area often referred to as Iceland’s ship graveyard.

In this talk, historian Jóhanna Þ. Guðmundsdóttir, project manager of publications at the National Archives of Iceland, recounts the story of the wreck, the rescue of the crew and valuables, and the auction of the salvaged goods, which were unusually plentiful on this occasion. She also presents the wide range of documents, letters, and accounts created in connection with the incident and now preserved at the National Archives.