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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]
Royal Mail Steam Packet Company / Royal Mail Lines Limited. The Royal Mail Steam Packet Company received the mail contract for the West Indies and commenced operating in 1841. A West Indies inter-island service was also operated. In 1850 services expanded to South America.
Soon after British-owned steamships began to run to America a company was formed by leading business men interested in the West Indies, to carry the mails from England to that part of the world. The charter of this company, to be known as the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, was granted in 1839.
In the autumn of 1839 the new company was granted a royal charter and the first mail contract was signed with the Admiralty in 1840. It provided for a service of steamships, twice in each calendar month, from a Channel port (eventually fixed as Southampton) to islands and ports in the West Indies.
The Royal Mail Steam Packet Company is one of the most ubiquitous of the British steamship companies. Incorporated in 1839, the company received a payment of £240,000 a year for the carrying of the mails to and from Great Britain, the West Indies, and North and South America.
1907 The Royal Mail Steam Packet Co bought the David Jenkins and Co business and the Shire Line of Steamers Ltd was formed, with the ships repainted in Royal Mail colours. 1909 Acquired Elder Dempster and Co and restructured it. The company continued to trade under its own name.
In the autumn of 1839 the new company was granted a royal charter and the first mail contract was signed with the Admiralty in 1840. It provided for a service of steamships, twice in each calendar month, from a Channel port (eventually fixed as Southampton) to islands and ports in the West Indies.
