The biggest and the best A history of Cunard Line's transatlantic services

摘要

The Cunard Line is best kown for its transatlantic services. Ian Collard traces the history and development of these services from the mail ships of the 1840s through to tht great liners of the 1920s and the modern-day cruise ships. The Cunard Line can trace its origins to the first half of the 19th century when, on 4 July 1840, the steamer Britannia, sailed on her maiden voyage from Liverpool for Boston. Her owner, Samuel Cunard, had arrived in England from Canada where he and his brothers had been involved in numerous shipping operations, including managing the agency for the East India Company The impetus for the new transatlantic service had come the previous year from the securing of the Admiralty mail contract for the north Atlantic route by Cunard and his associates, Robert Napier, George Burns and David MacIver.