1840 - Creation of the Steam Mail Packet Service

Last year, Samuel Cunard, 53 years old, was awarded the Mail Packet Service between Liverpool and Halifax, as he promised to ensure a mail transport every fortnight all year long, what neither the Great Western Steamship Company nor the British and American Steam Navigation Company dared to propose the Admiralty.

He has accordingly established the British and North American Royal Mail Steam Packet Company in Glasgow with his associates, famous George Burns, 45, a successful shipping businessman, famous Robert Napier, 49, an engineer and businessman in steam engines, David & Charles McIver, and James Donaldson.

Samuel Cunard is a skilful British-Canadian entrepreneur who made a fortune in shipping and whaling. He started to care in steam navigation in 1830 and became one of the many owners of the 1370-ton steamship Royal William (1831), which was famous as being almost the first to cross the Atlantic ocean in 1833 in 25 days - almost because she stopped steaming and sailed a full day while her boilers were cleaned from salt. From that experience, Cunard was convinced of the maturity of steamships and went to Great Britain in 1837 to find investors for the purpose of a transatlantic steam mail service.

The company has immediately purchased four wooden 1,150-ton paddle steamers, Britannia, Acadia, Caledonia and Columbia, which have been built hastily and launched this year. They can host 115 passengers and carry 200 tons of cargo. Their 740-hp engine enable them to steam at 8.5 knots across the Atlantic ocean. The fare is £35, which is equal to competition for a first-class cabin and service.

¤ The standard wages of a servant amount to £10 a year. They amount to £40 for an able seaman. Of course, both workers are lodged and fed.

¤ Britannia sailed at 11 knots from Halifax to Liverpool for the return of her maiden round - a new record eastbound against the 10.2 knots achieved by Great Western in 1838.

A new standard has been established in terms of regularity and of reliability. Now America will be at ten to twelve days from Europe. The financial crises of 1836, 1837 and 1839 turned to be worsened by the delay of information of thirty or thirty-five days which generated panics and bankruptcies within the banks and companies exposed to a risk abroad. Furthermore, it has become obvious in the United Kingdom that fast information was an instrument of control & power, so necessary to the government.

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1838 - Crossing the Atlantic ocean under Steam