The Essex, a whaling ship from Nantucket, Massachusetts, sets sail in 1819 on a multi-year whaling expedition in the Pacific Ocean. In November of 1820, far off the coast of South America, a massive sperm whale repeatedly attacks the Essex, ultimately sinking the ship. 20 crew members escape in three small whaleboats with limited supplies. They face starvation, dehydration, and exposure on the open ocean for over three months. Desperate for survival, some of the men resort to cannibalism of their deceased crewmates. Only 8 of the original 20 crew members survive. Five are rescued by other ships and three remain on a remote island until their later rescue.

Aftermath: First mate Owen Chase and cabin boy Thomas Nickerson penned accounts of the harrowing ordeal. The Essex incident became a legendary maritime disaster and partially inspired Herman Melville's classic novel, Moby Dick.

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