
It was in 1838 that
shipping magnate Samuel Cunard, of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, along
with engineer Robert Napier and businessmen James Donaldson, Sir George Burns,
and David MacIver formed the British and North American Royal Mail Steam Packet
Company (BNARMSPC). This company was
however distinct from the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company founded in London in
1839 by Scot James Macqueen. BNARMSPC successfully bid for the rights to a
transatlantic mail shipping contract between England and America - winning this
entitled it to use the RMS (Royal Mail Ship) prefix on its vessels. The company
later changed its name to Cunard Steamships Ltd.
In May 1840 the 648 gross ton coastal paddle steamer SS
Unicorn, the company's first steamship, made the company's first transatlantic
trip. Under the direction of Captain Douglas, she carried 24 passengers,
including Edward Cunard (Samuel's son), on a trip lasting 14 days, at an
average speed of 8 knots, thereby meeting the contract requirement of a
crossing in a fortnight. Regular passenger and cargo service by steamship was
inaugurated by the paddle steamer Britannia, the first ship commissioned by the
company. On 4 July 1840 she sailed from Liverpool to Halifax, arriving in 12
days, then to Boston in 2 days 8 hours more.
PS Caledonia was another of their early ships.
David MacIver, the superintendant over the Liverpool branch
of the company died in 1845 and the reins were passed to his brother, Charles
MacIver. Cunard continued to face competition from its many competitors from
Britain, France, the United States and Germany, but survived them all. This was
mainly due to a great focus on safety. Cunard ships were usually not the
largest or the fastest but they earned a reputation for being the most reliable
and the safest.

Between 1914 and 1918 Cunard Line built its European
headquarters in Liverpool. The grand neo-Classical Cunard Building was to be
the third of Liverpool's 'Three Graces'. The headquarters were used by Cunard
until the 1960s. The prosperous company eventually absorbed Canadian Northern
Steamships Ltd and, in 1934, Cunard's principal competitor, the White Star
Line, owners of the ill-fated RMS Titanic and the RMS Britannic.
For more than a century and a half, Cunard dominated the
Atlantic passenger trade and was one of the world's most important companies,
with the majority of their liners being built at John Brown's Shipyard,
Clydebank, Scotland. Its ships played important roles in the development of the
world economy, and also participated in all of Britain's major wars from Crimea
to the Falklands War, when Cunard's container ship Atlantic Conveyor was sunk
by an Exocet missile.
Cunard Line and Princess Cruises had headquarters in Santa
Clarita. The line began to decline in the 1950s as speedy air travel began to
replace ships as the main transporters of passengers and mail across the
Atlantic. Cunard tried to address this by forming BOAC-Cunard Ltd in 1962 with
the British Overseas Airways Corporation to operate scheduled air services to
North America, the Caribbean and South America. It was dissolved in 1966.
Cunard Ships
The Cunard fleet, all built for Cunard unless otherwise
indicated, consisted of the following ships in order of acquisition:
Ship
|
Built
|
In service for Cunard
|
Type of Ship
|
Tonnage (GRT)
|
Notes
|
1836
|
1840–1846
|
wood-paddler
|
650
|
coastal steamer purchased for Montreal service, sold 1846
|
|
1840
|
1840–1849
|
wood-paddler
|
1,150
|
Eastbound record holder, sold to North German Navy 1849
|
|
1840
|
1840–1849
|
wood-paddler
|
1,150
|
sold to North German Navy 1849
|
|
1840
|
1840–1850
|
wood-paddler
|
1,150
|
sold to Spanish Navy 1850
|
|
1841
|
1841–1843
|
wood-paddler
|
1,150
|
Blue Riband, wrecked 1843 without loss of life
|
|
1843
|
1843–1850
|
wood-paddler
|
1,400
|
Eastbound record holder, sold to Spanish Navy 1850
|
|
1845
|
1845–1860
|
wood-paddler
|
1,400
|
Blue Riband, sold to Italian owners 1860
|
|
1848
|
1848–1863
|
wood-paddler
|
1,850
|
Blue Riband, sold 1863 and converted to sail
|
|
1848
|
1848–1866
|
wood-paddler
|
1,850
|
sold 1866 and converted to sail
|
|
1848
|
1848–1867
|
wood-paddler
|
1,850
|
Blue Riband, sold 1867
|
|
1848
|
1848–1866
|
wood-paddler
|
1,850
|
Eastbound record holder, sold 1866 and converted to sail
|
|
1850
|
1850–1868
|
wood-paddler
|
2,250
|
Blue Riband, sold 1868
|
|
1850
|
1850–1868
|
wood-paddler
|
2,250
|
sold 1868
|
|
1852
|
1852–1864
|
wood-paddler
|
2,400
|
sold 1864 and converted to sail
|
|
1852
|
1852–1859
|
iron-screw
|
1,400
|
sold to Spanish Government 1859
|
|
1853
|
1853–1859
|
iron-screw
|
1,400
|
sold to Spanish Government 1859
|
|
1854
|
1854–1860
|
iron-screw
|
2,200
|
sold to Allan Line 1860
|
|
1855
|
1855–1860
|
iron-screw
|
2,200
|
sold to Inman Line 1860
|
|
1856
|
1856–1869
|
iron-paddler
|
3,300
|
Blue Riband, taken out of service 1868 and scrapped 1872
|
|
1857
|
1860–1876
|
iron-screw
|
2,700
|
built for other owners, sold 1876
|
|
1862
|
1862–1880
|
iron-screw
|
2,550
|
sold to Spanish owners 1880
|
|
1862
|
1864–1878
|
iron-paddler
|
3,850
|
Blue Riband, sold 1878 and converted to cable layer
|
|
1864
|
1865–1876
|
iron-screw
|
2,700
|
sold 1876 and converted to sail
|
|
1865
|
1865–1878
|
iron-screw
|
2,700
|
sold 1878 to Red Star Line, and renamed
"Zeeland"
|
|
1867
|
1867–1880
|
express
|
2,950
|
sold to Red Star Line 1880
|
|
1867
|
1867–1880
|
intermediate
|
2,550
|
sold to Spanish owners 1880
|
|
1868
|
1868–1892
|
intermediate
|
2,550
|
sold 1892
|
|
1870
|
1870–1884
|
intermediate
|
2,550
|
traded in for Oregon 1884
|
|
1870
|
1870–1880
|
express
|
3,250
|
sold to Guion Line 1880
|
|
1870
|
1870–1881
|
express
|
3,250
|
sold to Red Star Line 1881
|
|
1870
|
1870–1884
|
intermediate
|
3,150
|
traded in for Oregon 1884, scrapped 1955
|
|
1874
|
1874–1898
|
express
|
4,550
|
sold 1898
|
|
1875
|
1875–1899
|
express
|
4,550
|
sold 1899
|
|
1879
|
1879–1897
|
express
|
4,800
|
sold to Beaver Line 1899
|
|
1881
|
1881–1901
|
intermediate
|
4,850
|
sold 1901
|
|
1882
|
1882–1900
|
intermediate
|
5,500
|
sold to Russian Navy 1900, sunk Port Authur
|
|
1882
|
1882–1900
|
intermediate
|
5,500
|
sold 1900
|
|
1881
|
1881–1902
|
express
|
7,400
|
first steel liner to New York, scrapped 1902
|
|
1883
|
1883–1905
|
express
|
7,250
|
sold 1905
|
|
1883
|
1884–1886
|
express
|
7,400
|
Blue Riband, built for Guion Line, purchased by Cunard
1884, sank 1886 without loss of life
|
|
1884
|
1884–1910
|
express
|
7,700
|
Blue Riband, sold 1910
|
|
1884
|
1884–1910
|
express
|
7,700
|
Blue Riband, sold 1910
|
|
1893
|
1893–1914
|
express
|
12,900
|
Blue Riband, sold to Royal Navy 1914 and converted to
aircraft carrier
|
|
1893
|
1893–1909
|
express
|
12,900
|
Blue Riband, scrapped after fire 1909
|
|
1899
|
1899–1917
|
intermediate
|
10,400
|
sunk by submarine 1917
|
|
1900
|
1900–1917
|
intermediate
|
14,250
|
sunk by submarine 1917
|
|
1900
|
1900–1925
|
intermediate
|
14,250
|
sold 1925
|
|
1903
|
1903–1918
|
intermediate
|
13,600
|
rescued survivors from Titanic, sunk by
submarine 1918
|
|
1905
|
1905–1932
|
intermediate
|
19,650
|
scrapped 1932
|
|
1905
|
1905–1932
|
intermediate
|
19,650
|
scrapped 1932
|
|
1907
|
1907–1915
|
express
|
31,550
|
Blue Riband, sunk by submarine 1915
|
|
1907
|
1907–1934
|
express
|
31,950
|
Blue Riband, scrapped 1934
|
|
1911
|
1911–1916
|
intermediate
|
18,100
|
sunk by submarine 1916
|
|
1900
|
1911–1912
|
intermediate
|
7,650
|
built for Thompson Line, purchased by Cunard 1911, sold
1912
|
|
1911
|
1911–1918
|
intermediate
|
9,100
|
wrecked 1918
|
|
1912
|
1912–1917
|
intermediate
|
18,100
|
sunk by submarine 1917
|
|
1913
|
1913–1918
|
intermediate
|
13,400
|
sunk by submarine 1918
|
|
1913
|
1913–1916
|
intermediate
|
13,400
|
sunk by mine 1916
|
|
1914
|
1914–1950
|
express
|
45,650
|
scrapped 1950
|
|
1914
|
1914–1921
|
intermediate
|
15,700
|
built for other owners, acquired by Cunard 1914, sold 1921
|
|
1916
|
1916–1918
|
intermediate
|
13,400
|
sunk by submarine 1918
|
|
1920
|
1920–1930
|
intermediate
|
12,750
|
sold to Libera Triestina 1930
|
|
1913
|
1921–1938
|
express
|
51,950
|
built by Hapag as Imperator, purchased by
Cunard 1921, sold for scrap 1938
|
|
1921
|
1921–1958
|
intermediate
|
19,700
|
scrapped 1958
|
|
1922
|
1922–1955
|
intermediate
|
19,700
|
scrapped 1955
|
|
1922
|
1922–1942
|
intermediate
|
19,700
|
sunk by submarine 1942
|
|
1922
|
1922–1942
|
intermediate
|
13,900
|
sold to Admiralty 1942
|
|
1922
|
1922–1942
|
intermediate
|
13,900
|
sold to Admiralty 1942
|
|
1922
|
1922–1940
|
intermediate
|
16,250
|
sunk by bombing 1940
|
|
1923
|
1923–1956
|
intermediate
|
20,200
|
scrapped 1956
|
|
1924
|
1924–1942
|
intermediate
|
14,000
|
sold to Admiralty 1942
|
|
1925
|
1925–1940
|
cruise
|
20,200
|
sunk by submarine 1940
|
|
1925
|
1925–1956
|
intermediate
|
14,000
|
scrapped 1956
|
|
1925
|
1925–1942
|
intermediate
|
14,000
|
sold to Admiralty 1942
|
|
1936
|
1936–1967
|
express
|
80,750
|
Blue Riband, sold 1967, now a stationary hotel ship
|
|
1939
|
1939–1965
|
express
|
37,750
|
scrapped 1965
|
|
1940
|
1946–1968
|
express
|
83,650
|
WWII troopship 1940-1945, sold 1968, destroyed by fire
1972
|
Post WWII
Ship
|
Built
|
Cunard service
|
Type of Ship
|
Tonnage
(GRT) |
Notes
|
1947
|
1947–1961
|
Cargo liner
|
13,350
|
sold to Cogedar Line 1961
|
|
1947
|
1947–1961
|
Cargo liner
|
13,350
|
sold to P&O 1961
|
|
1949
|
1949–1968
|
Cruise
|
34,200
|
sold 1968, wrecked 1974
|
|
RMS Saxonia
RMS Carmania |
1954
|
1954-1962
1962-1973 |
Iintermediate
Cruise |
21,637
21,370 |
Sold to the Black Sea Shipping Company, Soviet Union 1973
|
RMS Ivernia
RMS Franconia |
1955
|
1955-1963
1963-1973 |
Cruise
|
21,800
|
Sold to the Far Eastern Shipping Company, Soviet Union
1973
|
1956
|
1956–1968
|
Intermediate
|
21,800
|
sold to Sitmar Line 1968
|
|
1957
|
1957–1968
|
Intermediate
|
21,800
|
sold to Sitmar Line 1968
|
|
1969
|
1969–2008
|
Express
|
70,300
|
sold 2008, laid up in Port Rashid
|
|
1971
|
1971–1977
|
Cruise
|
14,150
|
sold to Norwegian Cruise Line 1977
|
|
1972
|
1972–1974
|
Cruise
|
14,150
|
sold after fire 1974 to C. Clausen and converted to a cattle
carrier
|
|
1975
|
1976–1996
|
Cruise
|
17,500
|
sold to Awani Cruise Line 1996
|
|
1975
|
1977–1995
|
Cruise
|
17,500
|
sold to MSC Cruises 1995
|
|
1965
|
1983–1997
|
Cruise
|
24,500
|
built for Norwegian America Line, sold to Saga Cruises
1997
|
|
Vistafjord
Caronia |
1973
|
1983-1999
1999-2004 |
Cruise
|
24,300
|
built for Norwegian America Line, sold to Saga Cruises
2004
|
1984
|
1986–1998
|
Cruise
|
4,333
|
Built for Sea Goddess Cruises, transferred to Seabourn
Cruise Line 1998
|
|
1985
|
1986–1998
|
Cruise
|
4,333
|
Built for Sea Goddess Cruises, transferred to Seabourn
Cruise Line 1998
|
|
1988
|
1994–1999
|
Cruise
|
37,850
|
built for Royal Viking Line, transferred to Seabourn
Cruise Line 1999
|
|
2004
|
2004–present
|
Cruise
|
148,528 GT
|
in service
|
|
2007
|
2007–present
|
Cruise
|
90,049 GT
|
in service
|
|
Queen Elizabeth
|
2010
|
2010–present
|
Cruise
|
90,901 GT
|
in service
|
Links
Sources of Information
Liverpool Central Library Archives
Liverpool Records Office
Liverpool Central Library Archives
Liverpool Records Office
The Engineer 1901/02/15
Wikipedia
Graces Guide