Cunard Steamship Company / Cunard White Star
Fast and famous
A man from Nova Scotia (Canada), Samuel Cunard, founded one of
the best-known British shipping lines. In 1840 he was successful in
obtaining a contract to carry mail across the Atlantic using
steamships, then in their infancy. Glasgow shipowners and
shipbuilders were involved in financing and constructing Cunard`s
first four ships, although they operated out of Liverpool. Over the years, Cunard faced tough competition from US, other
British and European lines keen to take some of the lucrative North
Atlantic business. Often with the help of Government mail contracts
or other forms of subsidy, they succeeded by building bigger and
faster ships. A number of Cunarders established speed records, the
`Blue Riband` for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic. These
included the Umbria of 1882 and the
four-funnelled Mauretania of 1907. The Cunarders were
fast and comfortable (although the comfort did not always extend to
the emigrants in steerage), but rarely luxurious. When it came to
the ultimate in luxury, others overshadowed Cunard, notably
the White Star Line of Titanic fame. 
 Cunard presentation ceremony |
As well as carrying passengers, Cunard built up a network of
cargo services, notably from UK to USA and Canada, and to the
Mediterranean. Like other successful companies, to extend their
services they also bought other established lines. In 1916, a
company that served Australia was acquired, which became well known
as Port Line. Just after the First World War Cunard
bought Brocklebanks who had long run services from Liverpool
to Calcutta.
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