A brig was a fairly small sailing ship that was able to travel far distances. In was very popular in the early nineteenth century. This brig sailed regularly to South America and to Santo Tomás in Guatemala where from 1843-1854 a Belgian venture supported by king Leopold I attempted to establish a colony there. The Lesseliers was shipwrecked in 1864. The captain was arrested in Antwerp accused of causing the ship to founder in order to claim the insurance. Nevertheless, he was acquitted.
