July 2, 1843 the Columbia, a sidewheel steamer and one of the first four ship's owned by Samuel Cunard, was wrecked and sunk off Cape Sable, Island, Nova Scotia. The Columbia was built by Robert Steele & Co. Greenock, Scotland in 1841. She was 230' long with a beam of 34' and registered at 1,154 tons. The Columbia could make 11 knots when running all out and empty but her normal speed was just over 9 knots.

She made her maiden voyage on Jan. 5, 1841 from Liverpool to Boston via Halifax carrying passengers and the all important mail for the British Government. Columbia maintained this route for just over two years before she was lost off Cape Sable. That day there was a heavy fog, which is not uncommon for that area, and the Columbia was running at almost full speed. The captain had not been able to take his bearing due to the cloud cover and was in a current that was heavier than he had expected.

As the Cunarder approached Cape Sable she ran hard aground on Devil's Limb Reef and was stuck fast. All attempts to free her failed and she was abandoned. All passengers and crew were removed safely along with the mail and most of the passengers luggage. The Columbia broke up in the waves and sank making her the first steamship lost by Cunard.