Captain Alexander Rodger


1801 - 1877

Sea captain and adventurer. Born at Shore Street in Cellardyke (Fife), Rodger went to sea at the age of nineteen on a collier. He was quickly promoted becoming captain of his own ship within three years. He travelled the globe including leading an expedition from Cellardyke to the goldfields of Australia. He was later the owner of the tea clipper Taeping which won a grand race from Foochow to London against fifteen other clippers including the Ariel captained by his friend and rival Captain John Keay (1828 - 1918). This involved a journey of almost 16,000 miles (25,750 km) in only 90 days.

He died in Glasgow and Rodger Street in Cellardyke is named in his memory.


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