1818 - First Regular Transatlantic Packet Line

The Wright, Thompson, Marshall & Thompson Line, founded last year, has opened the first regular service between New York and Liverpool. The James Monroe, 420 tons, 118 feet in length and 28¼ feet in beam, a full-rigged three-mast ship, has been the line opener. She departed from New York on scheduled time, on the 5th of January at ten o’clock in the morning, although there were only seven passengers and a small cargo of apples and wool on board – three quarters of the cabins and of the hold were empty.   She arrived in Liverpool after 28 days, while the Courier of the same line, 380 tons, 103 feet in length and 29 feet in beam, had departed from Liverpool to New York where she arrived after 42 days.

There will be three other departures for the James Monroe at already fixed dates this year. The intent is to have a ship leaving new York and another leaving Liverpool on the first of every month.

The head of the company is Mr Jeremiah Thompson, 34 years old, and the most eminent shareholder is Mr Isaac Wright, who is 58. Messrs William Wright, who is Isaac’s son, Benjamin Marshall and Francis Thompson complete the board. All of them are Quakers.

¤ The Quakers, in small number though, are exceedingly active in philanthropic initiatives and in bank & business.

The line operates four packet ships, three being new 400-tonners. Its flag displays a black ball on a red background which earns it the nickname of Black Ball line, by which it is known. You can find the ship at the pier 26 at Manhattan, on the East Side river.

For the first time, the ship shall leave the harbour on a fixed date, irrespective of any delay or shortfall in cargo collection or in passenger arrival. As everybody knows, up to now every ship is intended to put to sea when her hold and her cabins are full. If difficult to achieve, she completes her cargo and passengers through extra calls at other harbours. Thus you do not know when you depart by one, two or three weeks ahead and, of course, when you arrive by one, two, three, four, five, six, or seven weeks, depending on logistics and on weather conditions. Of course, this applies to ‘regular’ traders which repeat the same round trip at variable intervals. Besides, the tramps have no regularity at all and change destination from an opportunity to the other. They may spend a year or two before coming back to their home port.

For some reason, which stems from their confidence in their ships as good sailers, the Black Ball directors also expect to reduce travel duration, which is 30 days Eastward and 45 Westward on average, by five days. This hope has not been met for line opening. Being chosen for the packet service is a major stake for fastness and regularity. Enabling the businessmen to plan and schedule import & export of goods is another major stake.

¤ As everybody knows, at the latitudes of New York and of Liverpool, usual winds blow Eastward most of time. Most often, the ships therefore sail upwind to go to New York and downwind to return to Liverpool, which makes a large difference.

Why 'packet' ? Transatlantic mail is gathered and stowed within leather packets, hence this name of packet for mail service.

Jeremiah Thompson and Benjamin Marshall have a background of merchants of textile and lately of raw cotton. They are the promoters of the project of being awarded packet service from their own needs in regard to cotton price fluctuations and to increasing demand.

The fare is expensive but accommodation is far beyond the standard of the day. The ships have a cow and hens for milk and eggs, as well as pigs, sheep and poultry for fresh meat, served in silver plates.

At once, the new practice appears as a game changer. There was a passenger’s expectation to meet for sure, and beyond even greater expectations from administration and business to get earliest information.

Messrs Thomas Byrnes, George Trimble and Silas Wood established the Byrnes, Trimble & Co. in the prospect of imitating the Black Ball through a Red Star line if it turns to run successful. Other American merchants observe this game with the greatest care.

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IN RETROSPECT FROM TODAY

NOTE A - About the fate of Black Ball line.

It will run during sixty years before failing for bankruptcy.

NOTE B - On the fate of the first ships.

In 1819, the Pacific is replaced by the Albion, which will wreck on the coast of Ireland in 1822. The Liverpool wrecks on her maiden voyage in 1820. In 1821 & 1822, the Britannia, Canada, Columbia, Superior and James Cropper join the line. In 1823, the James Monroe leaves the line. In 1824 the Courier is stranded South of New York. The line is ensured by between four and eight vessels, despite the heavy toll of three shipwrecks in six years which curiously does not damage its reputation, which is based on fastness – promise kept, 23 and 40 days on average – and on punctuality. After four years of operation, the schedule is doubled to a departure from New York and Liverpool every fortnight, on the 1st and the 16th of each month.

NOTE C - On competition.

Observing the Black Ball success, different competitors enter the market. The Red Star line starts in 1821. Afterwards, in quick succession until 1824, come the Swallow line, the London line (to London), the Liverpool line, the Union Line (to Le Havre), and the Fyfe line (to Greenock).

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SUGGESTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Charles S Strong – The Story of American Sailing Ships – New York, 1957 – available on the Internet