Royal Mail Steam Packet Company Explained

Royal Mail Steam Packet Company
Fate:Liquidated
Successor:Royal Mail Lines Ltd
Foundation:1839
Founder:James Macqueen
Defunct:1932
Location City:London
Location Country:United Kingdom
Key People:Lord Kylsant
Industry:Shipping

The Royal Mail Steam Packet Company was a British shipping company founded in London in 1839 by a Scot, James MacQueen. The line's motto was Per Mare Ubique (everywhere by sea). After a troubled start, it became the largest shipping group in the world in 1927 when it took over the White Star Line.[1] The company was liquidated and its assets taken over by the newly formed Royal Mail Lines in 1932 after financial trouble and scandal; over the years RML declined to no more than the name of a service run by former rival Hamburg Süd.

History as Royal Mail Steam Packet Company

The RMSPC, founded in 1839 by James MacQueen, ran tours and mail to various destinations in the Caribbean and South America, and by 1927, was the largest shipping group in the world.[2] MacQueen’s imperial visions for the RMSPC were clear; he hoped that new steamship communications between Britain and the Caribbean would mitigate post-Emancipation instabilities, in particular by promoting commerce.[3] From the outset the company aimed to be the vanguard of British maritime supremacy and technology, as F. Harcourt suggests, the RMSPC presented itself "as existing not merely for the good of its shareholders but for the good of the nation".[4] The high hopes for the business were boosted by the government’s mail contract subsidy, worth £240,000 a year.[5] The RMSPC evolved vastly from 1839 to the beginning of the 20th century. It introduced new technologies, such as John Elder’s marine compound steam engine in 1870, and worked to redefine seafaring by focusing on comfort and passenger requirements.[6]

In January 1903 Owen Philipps was elected to the RMSP's Court of Directors, and that March he was elected Chairman. Under Philipps, RMSP grew by acquiring controlling interests in multiple companies. Philipps was knighted in 1909 and ennobled as Baron Kylsant in 1923. However, poor economic circumstances and controversy surrounding a deception by Philipps meant that the RMSPC collapsed in 1930, after which various constituent companies were sold off. In 1932, its successor, the Royal Mail Lines (RML) was formed, continuing the memory and operations of the RMSPC.

Queen Victoria granted the initial Royal Charter of Incorporation of "The Royal Mail Steam Packet Company" on 26 September 1839. In 1840 the Admiralty and the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company made a contract in which the latter agreed to provide a fleet of not fewer than 14 steam ships for the purpose of carrying all Her Majesty's mails, to sail twice every month to Barbados in the West Indies from Southampton or Falmouth. Fourteen new steam ships were built for the purpose: Thames, Medway,, and Isis (built at Northfleet); Severn and Avon (built at Bristol); Tweed, Clyde, Teviot, Dee, and Solway (built at Greenock); Tay (built at Dumbarton); Forth (built at Leith); and Medina, (built at Cowes). In reference to their destination, these ships were known as the West Indies Mail Steamers.[7]

The West Indian Mail Service was established by the sailing of the first Royal Mail Steam Packet, PS Thames from Falmouth on 1 January 1841. A Supplemental Royal Charter was granted on 30 August 1851 extending the sphere of the Company's operations. In 1864, the mail service to the British Honduras was established. A further Supplemental Royal Charter was granted extending the sphere of the Company's operations on 7 March 1882.

Philipps modernised RMSP's fleet in the decade before the First World War. He started in June 1903 by ordering three refrigerated cargo ships: Parana, Pardo and, to bring frozen meat to Europe from ports on the River Plate. All three were built in Belfast; two by Harland & Wolff. That October, Philipps ordered three smaller cargo ships for RMSP's Caribbean service, Conway, Caroni and Catalina, from Armstrong Whitworth on Tyneside. Then in November he impressed upon his fellow-Directors the need for new and larger ocean liners for the mail contract between Britain and the River Plate.

This led to the introduction of a series of larger liners ranging from to on RMSP's Southampton – Buenos Aires route. Each had a name beginning with the letter "A", so collectively they were called the "A-liners" or the "A-series". The first was RMS Aragon in 1905, followed by sister ships, and in 1906, and in 1908. A few years later the final four "A-liners" were built: in 1912, Andes and in 1913 and in 1915. Earlier members of the series, from Aragon to Asturias, had twin screws, each driven by a four-cylinder quadruple-expansion steam engine. The final four members of the series, from Arlanza to Almanzora, were significantly larger than the earlier five. They had triple screws, with the middle one driven by a low pressure Parsons steam turbine.

After the First World War RMSP faced not only existing foreign competition but a new UK challenger. Lord Vestey's Blue Star Line had joined the South American route and won a large share of the frozen meat trade. Then in 1926–27 Blue Star introduced its new "luxury five" ships Almeda, Andalucia, Arandora, Avelona and Avila to both increase refrigerated cargo capacity and enter the passenger trade. At the same time RMSP introduced a pair of new liners, in 1926 and in 1927, which at that stage were the largest motor ships in the World. Although these were the biggest and most luxurious UK ships on the route, RMSP Chairman Lord Kylsant called Blue Star's quintet "very keen competition".

Reconstitution as Royal Mail Lines

Royal Mail Lines Ltd
Fate:Acquired
Predecessor:Royal Mail Steam Packet Company
Successor:Furness, Withy & Co.
Foundation:1932
Defunct:1965
Industry:Shipping, cruise line

The company ran into financial trouble, and the UK Government investigated its affairs in 1930, resulting in the Royal Mail Case. In 1931 Lord Kylsant was jailed for 12 months for misrepresenting the state of the company to shareholders.[1] So much of Britain's shipping industry was involved in RMSPC that arrangements were made to guarantee the continuation of ship operations after it was liquidated. Royal Mail Lines Ltd (RML) was created in 1932 and took over the ships of RMSPC and other companies of the former group.[8] The new company was chaired by Lord Essendon.

The new company's operations were concentrated on the west coast of South America, the West Indies and Caribbean, and the Pacific coast of North America; the Southampton – Lisbon – Brazil – Uruguay – Argentina route was operated from 1850 to 1980. RML was also a leading cruise ship operator.

RMS's largest ship was the turbine steamship . She was designed as an ocean liner but when launched in 1939 was immediately fitted out as a troopship. She finally entered civilian liner service in 1948, was converted to full-time cruising in 1960 and was scrapped in 1971.

RMSP and RML lost a number of ships in their long history. One of the last was the turbine steamship, which was launched in 1948 and grounded and sank off Brazil on her maiden voyage in 1949.

In 1965 RML was bought by Furness, Withy & Co.,[1] and rapidly lost its identity. In the 1970s parts of the Furness Withy Group, including RML, were sold on to Hong Kong shipowner CY Tung, and later sold on to former River Plate rival Hamburg Süd; by the 1990s Royal Mail Lines was no more than the name of a Hamburg-Süd refrigerated cargo service from South America to Europe.

Fleet

List of RMSP Company ships

For conciseness smaller ships such as schooners and lighters are omitted.[9]

ShipDate CommissionedGTPropulsionHullNotes
Clyde 18411,841paddle wood
Tweed 18411,800paddle wood
Thames 18411,889paddle wood
Forth 18411,900paddle wood
Solway 18411,700paddle wood
Tay 18411,858paddle wood
Medina 18411,800paddle wood
Medway 18411,895paddle wood
Dee 18411,849paddle wood
18411,856paddle wood Served as a troopship during the Crimean War. Involved in the Trent Affair between the UK and US. Scrapped in 1865
Teviot 18411,744paddle wood
Isis 18411,900paddle wood
City of Glasgow 18411,700paddle wood
Avon 18412,069paddle wood Wrecked 1863.
Severn 18411,886paddle wood
18471,775paddle wood Brunel's first ship
18512,256paddle wood Caught fire at sea and sank on Maiden Voyage
Orinoco 18512,901paddle wood
Parana18523,070paddle wood
Magdalena18522,943paddle wood
Demerara 18512,318paddle wood
La Plata18522,826paddle wood Swamped by a tsunami following the Virgin Islands earthquake in 1867. Most of the crew were killed.[10]
18533,184paddle iron
Solent 18531,804paddle composite
Tamar18541,850paddle wood
Tyne18541,603paddle iron Grounded January 18, 1857 on the coast of Purbeck in Dorset; refloated within 6 weeks.[11]
Oneida18582,285paddle iron
Paramatta18593,439paddle iron
Mersey18591,039paddle iron
Shannon18593,609paddle iron
Tasmanian18582,956screw iron
Seine18603,440paddle iron
Eider18641,569paddle iron
18652,824screw iron
Arno18651,038screw iron
18652,738screw iron
Danube18652,000screw iron
Corsica18671,134screw iron
Neva18683,025screw iron
Nile18693,039screw iron
Elbe18703,063screw iron
Tiber18711,591screw iron
Ebro18711,509screw iron
Liffey18711,504screw iron
Moselle18713,298screw iron
Belize18711,038screw iron
Tagus18713,299screw iron
Boyne18713,318screw iron
Essequibo18731,831screw iron
Larne18731,670screw iron
Severn18731,736screw iron
Minho18742,540screw iron
Mondego18742,564screw iron
Dee18751,864screw iron
Guadiana18752,504screw iron
Para18754,028screw iron
Don18754,028screw iron
Medway18773,687screw iron
Solent18781,915screw iron
Tamar18782,923screw iron
Trent18782,912screw iron
Derwent18792,466screw iron
Humber18802,371screw iron
Avon18802,162screw iron Sold to Ellerman Lines 1903. Sank after colliding with SS Boynton, 19 April 1916.
La Plata18823,240screw iron
Eden18822,145screw iron
Esk18822,145screw iron
Dart18832,641screw iron Sank off San Sebastian, to the north of Santos, Brazil.[12]
18864,572screw steel
18885,347screw steel
18895,373screw steel
Thames18895,261screw steel
Clyde18905,618screw steel
Nile18935,855screw steel
Danube18935,891screw steel
La Plata18963,445screw steel
Minho18963,445screw steel
Ebro18963,445screw steel
Severn18983,760screw steel
Tagus18995,545screw steel
18995,525screw steel Requisitioned by the Admiralty as a depot ship, 1915-1919. Scrapped in 1922.
Tyne19002,902screw steel
Eider19001,236screw steel
La Plata19014,464screw steel
Dee19021,871screw steel
Tamar19023,207screw steel
Teviot19023,271screw steel
Parana19044,515screw steel
Pardo19044,464screw steel
19044,464screw steel
Conway19042,650screw steel
Caroni19042,628screw steel
Catalina19044,464screw steel
19059,588screw steel
Oruba19065,737screw steel
Orotava19065,851screw steel Ex PSNC. Requisitioned as an Armed Merchant Cruiser 1914–1919. Scrapped 1921.
Oroya19066,297screw steel Ex PSNC. Scrapped 1909
19067,945screw steel Ex PSNC Ortona. Requisitioned in 1915 and converted to an armed merchant cruiser. Torpedoed and sunk by 15 April 1917.
Marima19062,742screw steel Ex Bucknall Line Zulu. Sold 1911 and renamed Marika.
Manau19062,745screw steel Ex Bucknall Line Transvaal. Wrecked near Bahia in 1906.
190610,037screw steel Torpedoed and sunk by on 15 Mar 1918.
Segura19064,756screw steel Ex Union-Castle Line Greek. Transferred to Shire Line and renamed Pembrokeshire. Returned to RSMP in 1913 and renamed Chignecto. Scrapped in 1927.
Sabor19064,758screw steel Ex Union-Castle Line Gaul. Transferred to Shire Line and renamed Carmarthenshire. Returned to RSMP in 1913 and renamed Chaleur. Scrapped in 1927.
Araguaya190610,537screw steel Requisitioned for conversion to a Hospital ship in 1917. Returned to RMSP in 1920. Sold to Jugoslavenski Lloyd in 1930 and renamed Kraljica Marija. Sold to France in 1940 and renamed Savoie II. Sunk at Casablanca on 8 Nov 1942 by US Naval Forces.
Avon190611,073screw steel Requisitioned as a troopship 1914. Converted to an AMC as HMS Avoca. Returned to RMSP 1919 and resumed original name. Scrapped 1930.
Monmouthshire19075,091screw steel Ex Shire Line. Renamed Tyne 1919. Sold to Japan 1922 and renamed Toku Maru. Scrapped 1934.
Denbighshire19073,844screw steel Ex Shire Line. Renamed Tamar 1919. Sold 1923 and renamed Joyce Nancy. Resold 1925 and renamed Sassa. Sold again the same year and renamed Argostoli. Sold once more 1928 and renamed Avgy. Scrapped 1930.
Flintshire19073,815screw steel Ex Shire Line. Sold 1913 to Ellerman Lines and renamed Algerian. Mined by UC-5 on 12 January 1916.
190812,015screw steel Requisitioned for use as a hospital ship in WW1. Torpedoed by UC-66 on 20 March 1917 and beached. Subsequently salvaged for use as an ammunition hulk. Repurchased by RMSP 1920 and refitted as a cruise ship and renamed Arcadian. Scrapped 1933.
Arzila19082,722screw steel Ex Mersey Steamship Co. Sold in 1922 to Kehdivial Mail Line and renamed Bilbeis. Wrecked 5 March 1934.
Agadir19082,722screw steel Ex Mersey Steamship Co. Sold 1922 to Kehdivial Mail Line and renamed Belkas. Resold 1935 and renamed Damas. Sold again 1940 and renamed Sakara. Requisitioned by the MoWT in WW2. Returned to KML 1946 and scrapped 1955.
Berbice19092,379screw steel Originally deployed on the West Indies inter-island service. Requisitioned 1915 as a hospital ship. Sold to Mitchell Cotts & Co 1922 and renamed Suntemple. Resold 1924 and renamed Baltara. Wrecked 1929.
Balantia19092,379screw steel Originally deployed on the West Indies inter-island service. Requisitioned 1916 as a hospital ship and renamed St. Margaret of Scotland. Returned 1918 and resumed former name. Sold 1922 to Kehdivial Mail Line and renamed Boulac. Scrapped 1935.
Deseado191111,475screw steel Passed to RML. Scrapped 1934.
191215,044screw steel Requisitioned as an AMC in WW1. Returned to civilian service 1920. Passed to RML. Scrapped 1938.
Demerara191111,484screw steel Scrapped 1933.
Desna191211,484screw steel Scrapped 1933.
Alcala191310,660screw steel Ex Lamport and Holt Vauban. Returned to L&H 1914 and resumed original name. Chartered again for a short time 1922. Scrapped 1932 after having been laid up for two years.
Andes191315,620screw steel Requisitioned as an AMC in WW1. Renamed Atlantis 1929 and redeployed as a cruise chip. Passed to RML. Requisitioned as a hospital ship in WW2 and retained as an emigrant ship afterwards. Scrapped 1952.
Radnorshire19134,302screw steel Operated by Shire Line. Captured and sunk by 7 January 1917.
Caribbean19135,824screw steel Ex Union-Castle Line Dunnottar Castle. Requisitioned as an AMC in WW1. Foundered 27 September 1915.
Merionethshire19134,308screw steel Ex Cambrian SN Co Reptonian. Operated by Shire Line. Torpedoed and sunk by 27 May 1918.
Cardiganshire19139,426screw steel Operated by Shire Line. Requisitioned as a troopship in WW1. Sold to Christian Salvesen 1929 and renamed Salvestria. Mined and sunk 27 July 1940.
Cobequid19134,738screw steel Ex Union-Castle Line Goth. Stranded and wrecked 13 January 1914.
Caraquet19134,917screw steel Ex Union-Castle Line Guelph. Ran aground on a reef and sank 25 June 1923.
191315,831screw steel Requisitioned as an AMC in WW1. Sunk in action with 29 February 1916.
Carnarvonshire19139,406screw steel Operated by Shire Line. Scrapped 1933.
Drina191311,483screw steel Ex Elder Dempster Lines. Initially requisitioned as a hospital ship but returned to RMSP. Mined and sunk 1 March 1917.
Almanzora191415,551screw steel Requisitioned as an AMC in WW1. Passed to RML. Requisitioned as troopship in WW2, retained as an emigrant ship until 1947, scrapped 1948.
Essequibo19148,489screw steel Requisitioned as an AMC in WW1. Sold to Pacific Steam Navigation Company (PSNC) 1922. Sold to USSR 1935 and renamed Neva.
19148,480screw steel Requisitioned as an AMC in WW1. Sold to PSNC 1922. Resold to Yugoslavia 1935 and renamed Princess Olga. Sold to Portugal 1940 and renamed Serpa Pinto. Scrapped 1954.
Carmarthenshire19157,823screw steel Sold to Christian Salveson in 1929 and converted to a whale factory ship. Renamed Sourabaya. Torpedoed and sunk by U-436 on 27 Oct 1942.
Pembrokeshire19157,821screw steel Scrapped 1933.
Larne19163,808screw steel Ex Aberdeen Line Ninevah, ex E&ASC Aldenham. Sold 1917, scrapped 1923.
Brecknockshire19168,422screw steel Operated by Shire Line. Captured and sunk on her maiden voyage by SMS Möwe 15 February 1915.
Darro191611,493screw steel Collided with the troopship 21 February 1917, the latter sank with great loss of life. Scrapped 1933.
Navasota19178,795screw steel Passed to RML. Torpedoed and sunk by 5 December 1939.
Sambre19195,260screw steel Ex War Swift. Passed to RML. Torpedoed and sunk by 27 July 1940.
Glamorganshire19198,192screw steel Ex War Armour. Operated by Shire Line. Scrapped 1933
Nagara19198,803screw steel Passed to RML. Torpedoed and sunk by 29 March 1943.
Segura19195,295screw steel Ex War Pansy. Sold 1921 to Buenos Aires Great Southern Railway. Resold 1932 to Houlder Line and renamed Langton Grange. Sold to Greece 1937 and renamed Nicolaos M. Embiricos. Mined and sunk 4 November 1939.
Somme19195,265screw steel Ex War Toucan. Passed to RML. Torpedoed and sunk by 18 February 1942.
Severn19195,246screw steel Ex War Pelican. Sold to Greece 1932 and renamed Leonidas II. Scrapped 1934.
Radnorshire19196,723screw steel Ex War Diamond. Operated by Shire Line. Sold to Henry Thompson 1931 and renamed Sithonia. Torpedoed and sunk by 13 July 1942.
Silarus19195,101screw steel Sold to G N Stathatos 1931 and renamed Nemea. Torpedoed and sunk by the 15 January 1941.
Siris19195,242screw steel Ex War Gem. Passed to RML. Torpedoed and sunk by 12 July 1942.
Narenta19198,266screw steel Passed to RML. Sold to Japan 1939. and renamed Kosei Maru. Torpedoed and sunk by 7 April 1943.
Nictheroy19208,265screw steel Passed to RML. Sold to Lauro Lines 1937 and renamed Cuma. Mined and sunk 18 October 1940.
Orcana19207,814screw steel Ex Aberdeen Line Militiades. Sold to PSNC 1922. Scrapped 1924.
Oruba19207,818screw steel Ex Aberdeen Line Marathon. Sold to PSNC 1922. Scrapped 1924.
Natia19208,723screw steel Passed to RML. Captured and scuttled by the 8 October 1940.
Nariva19208,723screw steel Passed to RML. Torpedoed and sunk by 17 March 1943.
Nebraska19208,261screw steel Passed to RML. Torpedoed and sunk by 8 April 1944.
Sarthe19205,371screw steel Passed to RML. Torpedoed and sunk by 8 October 1942.
Sabor19205,212screw steel Ex War Whale. Passed to RML. Torpedoed and sunk by 7 March 1943.
Montgomeryshire19216,650screw steel Ex War Valour. Operated by Shire Line. Sold to Italy 1931 and renamed Riv. Sunk in an air raid 30 August 1941.
Lochkatrine19219,419screw steel Passed to RML. Torpedoed and sunk by 3 August 1942.
Lochgoil19229,462screw steel Passed to RML. Taken over by MoWT 1939 and converted to CAM ship Empire Rowan. Torpedoed by Italian aircraft 27 March 1943 and beached. Wreck blew up 1951.
Culebra19233,044screw steel Ex War Mirage, ex Riposto. Passed to RML. Sunk by gunfire from 25 January 1942.
192316,063screw steel Ex PSNC. sold to White Star Line 1927 and renamed Calgaric. Scrapped 1934.
192315,499screw steel Ex PSNC. Returned to PSNC 1926. Scrapped 1951.
192315,486screw steel Ex PSNC. Chartered 1921 then purchased 1923. Returned to PSNC 1926. Scrapped 1950.
Ohio192318,940screw steel Sold to White Star Line 1927 and renamed Albertic. Scrapped 1934.
Lochmonar19239,412screw steel Wrecked off Liverpool 30 November 1927.
192522,048screw steel Passed to RML. Requisitioned as an AMC in WW2, later converted into an emigrant ship. Scrapped 1958.
192622,209screw steel Passed to RML. Requisitioned as an AMC in WW2, later converted to a troopship. Returned to service in 1948, scrapped 1958.

List of Royal Mail Lines ships

This list is of the additional ships acquired by RML in addition to those passed directly from RMSP.

ShipServiceGRTNotes
1920-1927 18,940 Sold to White Star Line. Scrapped in 1934
1925-1957 22,181 Sold for scrap, 14 September 1957
1926-1958 22,181 Returned to civilian service 1948 Broken up 1958
Highland Chieftain 1932–58 14,131 ex Nelson Line. Sold and renamed Calpean Star
Highland Brigade 1932–59 14,131 ex Nelson Line. Troopship in WWII. Sold and renamed Henrietta.
Highland Monarch 1932–58 14,139 ex Nelson Line. Scrapped 1960.
Highland Patriot 1932–40 14,157 ex Nelson Line. Torpedoed and sunk by in the North Atlantic.
Highland Princess 1932–59 14,128 ex Nelson Line. Sold and renamed Marianna.
Nagoya 1932–36 8,442 ex Nelson Line Highland Warrior. Sold and renamed Marlene.
Nasina 1932–35 7,206 ex Nelson Line Meissonier. Sold and renamed Asmara.
Nela 1932–46 7,206 ex Nelson Line Moliere.
Nalon 1932–40 7,206 ex Nelson Line Murillo. Bombed and sunk off Ireland 6 November 1940.
1947-1971 26,689 Requisitioned by the Admiralty as a troop ship. Returned to Royal Mail Line in 1947, scrapped in Ghent in 1971
1948–49 17,547 Sank off the coast of Brazil on maiden voyage.
1959–68 20,348 Transferred to Shaw, Savill and Albion Line and renamed Akaroa.
Aragon 1959–69 20,348 Transferred to Shaw, Savill and Albion and renamed Arawa.
Arlanza 1960–69 20,348 Transferred to Shaw, Savill and Albion and renamed Aranda.

See also

References

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Royal Mail Steam Packet Company . https://web.archive.org/web/20040220192522/http://www.plimsoll.org/OnTheLine/ShippingLines/royalmail/default.asp#2 . usurped . 20 February 2004 . Shipping Lines . Plimsoll.org . 17 April 2012.
  2. Book: Hunt, BC . 1936 . The Development of the Business Corporation in England 1800–1867 . Cambridge . Cambridge University Press.
  3. Book: MacQueen, James . 1838 . A General Plan for a Mail Communication by Steam between Great Britain and the Eastern and Western Parts of the World; also, to Canton and Sydney, Westward by the Pacific . London . B Fellowes.
  4. Book: Harcourt, F . 2006 . Flagships of Imperialism: The P&O Company and the Politics of Empire from its Origins to 1867 . Manchester . Manchester University Press . 3.
  5. Anyaa . Anim-Addo . 2013 . Steaming between the Islands: Nineteenth-Century Maritime Networks and the Caribbean Archipelago . Island Studies Journal . 8 . 1 . 24. 10.24043/isj.274 . 246312982 . free .
  6. Book: Woolward, Robert . 1894 . Nigh on sixty years at sea . London . Digby, Long & Co . 172–175.
  7. Book: Dodd, George . George Dodd (19th century writer) . 1867 . Railways steamers and telegraphs: a glance at their recent progress and present state . London . . 159–161.
  8. Web site: The Royal Mail Story . Nicol . Stuart . Users.on.net . 17 April 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111208010107/http://www.users.on.net/~snicol/story/index3.html . 8 December 2011.
  9. The steamer Dane was running to Cape Town in 1860: Morning Chronicle, 30 November 1860 - Cape of Good Hope
  10. Web site: M 7.3 - The 1867 Virgin Islands Earthquake . earthquake.usgs.gov . . 15 June 2022.
  11. Book: Purbeck Society. Papers read before the Purbeck Society. 1856–1857. Warwick. London Natural History Museum Library. English.
  12. News: Accidents . The Cornishman . 322 . 18 September 1884 . 6.

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