George Steers (1819 - 1856)

AMERICA, the schooner yacht that gave its name to the "One Hundred Guinea Cup" was modeled and built by the youthful American George Steers in the shipyard of William H. Brown in New York. Steers was confident of the abilities of the AMERICA and went across on her for the famous race around the Isle of Wight in August 1851. He assisted Captain Richard Brown by looking after the rigging and attending to the set and trim of sails. Commodore Stevens of the New York Yacht Club acknowledged George Steers' role in building the vessel responsible for winning the Cup when he stated, "the model and construction of the yacht AMERICA was due, and due alone, to Mr. George Steers."