Le Lyonnais was making its first trip from America to Europe, carrying 132 people when it collided with the Adriatic, an American sailing vessel, on Nov. 2, 1856.

The state-of-the-art ship Le Lyonnais was built in 1855 for transatlantic passenger and mail service. The ship never made it home following its maiden voyage from Le Havre to New York in January 1856.

Le Lyonnais was discovered in the Atlantic Ocean about 140 miles east of Nantucket, Mass. More than 100 died after the French passenger steamship sank. By Hank Sanders A French passenger steamship ...

Le Lyonnais was built by Laird & Sons —now Cammel Laird — in 1855 for Compagnie Franco-Americaine. She was one of six ships built by Laird for Franco-Americaine to be used in transatlantic ...