Since antiquity, the area now known as Dalmatia has been inhabited by seafaring peoples who not only lived by the sea but also made their living of it; engaging in advanced shipbuilding, fishing, and maritime trade. These people were also renowned for their skill in naval warfare and at times - piracy. The Dalmatian sailor, long synonymous with excellence and confidence at sea – a realm often regarded as perilous and foreign due to its unpredictable nature and mystique – embodies a legacy rooted in ancient maritime know-how. This tradition evolved from a fusion of the maritime cultures of the Liburnians, Illyrians, Greeks, Romans, Slavs, Venetians and even Normans and Turks, all of whom, to varying extents, left their mark on the development of seafaring culture in the region. In the 19th century – the age of the industrial revolution – the shipping industry in the Kingdom of Dalmatia reached its peak, representing the zenith of classical sailing expertise alongside a gradual adaptation to modern propulsion technologies and the organisational demands of an evolving shipping sector. Drawing of the highly skilled seafarers of Dalmatia, Istria, and the Veneto, the Austrian Empire bolstered its maritime trade network, becoming the Mediterranean's leading trading power by the mid-century. Dalmatian sailors served as captains, established shipping companies and attended their own nautical schools. During that period, traditional maritime centres were modernised, with the Empire investing in infrastructure and enacting regulations to make Adriatic trade more secure and profitable. This paper will explore the historical context of this period, the principal maritime centres, and the key drivers of Dalmatia’s maritime and economic development in the 19th century.