White Star Line

The White Star Line was originally founded back in the 1850's. At that time, it consisted of sailing vessels travelling trade routes centred on Australian goldfields. Then, in 1867, White Star was purchased by Thomas Henry Ismay who was Bruce Ismay's father. At this time, White Star began to focus its efforts on the ever growing Atlantic Passenger routes. The Cunard Lines, until now, had been virtually unchallenged in the Atlantic routes. However, with White Star's Baltic, which set the Atlantic speed record in 1873, Cunard finally had a worthy opponent. The two companies were in constant competition as each one released better and faster vessels. White Star was the first to introduce ships without sails, the Teutonic and the Majestic. Bruce Ismay took over from his father after his death in 1899. In 1902, however, the company was sold to an American financier named J. Pierpoint Morgan but Ismay was allowed to retain his Directorship of the company and was also made Chairman and Managing Director. Morgan was very interested in the passenger trade route across the Altantic and saw great opportunity there. Using his vast wealth, he financed the creation of what would be the some of the greatest ships ever created: The Olympic Class liners Olympic, Titanic, and Brittanic. A quick look at the history of the line: 1850: Founded in Liverpool, specialized on trade with australian gold mines. 1867: Thomas Henry Ismay buys the line. 1869: The Oceanic Steam Navigation Company is found to establish the White Star Line in transatlantic service. 1891: The "Tuetonic" wins the Blue Ribbon of the Atlantic. 1899: Maiden voyage of the "Oceanic", the largest ship of the world in 1899. 1901: Maiden voyage of the "Celtic" und "Cedric", who are even larger than the "Oceanic". 1902: The american International Mercantile Marine Company IMM buys the line. 1907: Decision to build three ships of the Olympic-class: "Olympic", "Titanic" und "Gigantic". 1908: July 31st: These ships are ordered at Harland & Wolff in Belfast. 1908: December 16th: Beginning of the construction of the "Olympic". 1909: March 31st: Beginning of the construction of the "Titanic". 1911: May 31st: Launching of the "Titanic", the largest and most luxurious ship of the world in 1912. 1912: April 10th: Maiden voyage of the "Titanic" from Southampton to New York via Cherbourg and Queenstown (Cork). 1912: April 14th: At 11.40pm the "Titanic" collides with an iceberg. 1912: April 15th: At 2.20am the "Titanic" sinks and more than 1500 people die. 1914: Launching of the "Britannic", which should have the name "Gigantic". 1915: The "Britannic" gets a hospital ship. 1916: The "Britannic" collides with a mine. 30 people die, the ship sinks in one hour. 1935: The White Star Line and the Cunard Line combine. Name of the new company: Cunard White Star. http://www.webtitanic.net/framewhite.html