Captain Samuel S. Samuels (1823 – 1908) was an American sea captain best known for command of the famous clipper ship the Dreadnought. She was the fastest sailing ship of her day and was quite famous' Samuels was also famous as her captain and designer. In 1859 he set a new record for New York to Liverpool of 9 days, 17 hours.
Born in Philadelphia, he wrote in his autobiography that books of James Fenimore Cooper and Frederick Marryat inspired him to run away to sea aged 11. He was shanghaied onto a ship bound for Liverpool, learnt the skills of the seaman, became an officer, and then a captain before he was twenty-one.
He ent on to captain of James Gordon Bennett Jr.'s yachts Henrietta and Dauntless in famous races in 1866, 1870 and 1887.
In 1887 he released his autobiography From the Forecastle to the Cabin.