The steamship North American was built at William Denny & Brothers in 1856 for the Allen Line. She was used on the North Atlantic between the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States until 1874 when she was sold. In 1875 she was sold again to William Edmonstone of London, and John Kerr Liverpool. She retained her name through both sales.

On February 19, 1885 the ship departed Melbourne, Australia bound for London. Nobody knows how the voyage went or how far they got as the ship and crew was never seen again.