White Star Line

:If you are looking for the Babylon 5 starships, see the article White Star.

Early history

It was founded in Liverpool as the White Star Line by John Pilkington and Henry Threlfall Wilson, and focused on the Australian trade, which had recently increased following the discovery of gold there. The fleet initially consisted of chartered sailing ships, the Blue Jacket (later renamed White Star), the Red Jacket, the Ellen and the Iowa but it acquired its first steamship in 1863 with the Royal Standard. One notable ship was Tayleur, whose fate would haunt the company.

Related Topics:
Liverpool - Australian - Gold - 1863 - ''Tayleur''

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It merged with other small lines, the Black Ball and Eagle Lines to form a conglomerate called the Liverpool, Melbourne and Oriental Steam Navigation Company Limited. This did not prosper and the company broke away and concentrated on the Liverpool to New York service. Heavy investment in new ships was financed by borrowing, but the company's bank, the Royal Bank of Liverpool, failed in October 1867 leaving the company with an outstanding debt of £527,000.

Related Topics:
Liverpool - New York - 1867

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