| Early 17th century | Europeans begin tea trading with China, mainly in the port of Canton. |
| 1812 | In response to the need for faster transportation, (tea would sometimes take between 6-8 months to arrive in London docks), the first clippers, 'Baltimore' and later 'Ann McKim' (1832), are built in America. |
| 1846 | The first British clipper, the 'Torrington' is launched. |
| 1849 | The British Government lifts its ban on foreign ships offloading tea in a British port. This results in 55.5 million lbs of tea being imported into Britain, and clipper races between American and British vessels begin in earnest. |
| 1869 | The 'Cutty Sark' is launched at a time when steam ships and the opening of the Suez Canal results in faster journeys and the ultimate demise of the clippers. |
| 1870s | By now, only a few clippers still operate, carrying mainly wool and various other cargos. The golden age of these graceful vessels is over. |
Opium clipper Water Witch (1831). © NMM
