A Chronology of the "White Star" Line from the years 1845 to 1873. This page is very much in its rough stages. We will be adding to it as we uncover information from our archives and resources.  1845 Realizing the profit potential in the timber trade and emigration between Europe and North America, John Pilkington and Henry Threlfall Wilson establish a ship brokerage company, in Liverpool, England. and call it "Pilkington & Wilson". 1846 January February 26th: In their first venture for themselves, Pilkington & Wilson charter the brig "Elizabeth" to Montreal. March April May June July August September October November December 1847 January February March April May June July August September October November Carter & Baines ventured into ship owning again in early 1847 when they purchased half the shares of the 421 ton Charles Brownell, a full-rigged ship and immediately mortgaged their shares for £1800 in January and paid off the debt in June. That same day, they borrowed more money and two months later borrowed some more. The financial panic of 1847 had set in by the fall, and on November 5th, W. & J. Lockett, the merchants and shippers that Carter & Baines had borrowed the money from, foreclosed on the Charles Brownell and she was sold to Thomas Ismay, the future founder of the White Star Line. December 1848 January February March April May June July August September October November December 1849 January Pilkington and Wilson, 55 Waterloo-road . 20th: An ad in the Liverpool Journal announces the ship "Henry Ware" of 540 tons, Captain Nason, entering for loading and bound for New Orleans. Also entering is the "Faneuil Hall" of 678 tons, Captain Sears, and bound for Boston. Both ships are under Pilkington and Wilson. February March April May June Pilkington and Wilson Purchase the new 879 ton barque "Iowa". They establish the red swallowtail with a white star as the company flag and commence sailing as the 'White Star Line of Boston Packets' to Boston, New York, Charleston, Mobile, and New Orleans and Galveston. Daniel Pilkington is the New York agent for the White Star Line. 28th: English newspapers carry the first advertisements for the "White Star Line of Boston Packets". July August September October November December 1850 January 27th: Edward J. Smith is born at Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire February March April 19th: The "Rockaway" is jointly chartered by Pilkington & Wilson and J. W. Shaw & Co. May June July 20th: The "Rockaway" arrives in New York. August September October November December 1851 January February March April 7th - 12th: John Hardman Lister, and James Tom recover about 120g (4 oz) of gold at the junction of Lewis Ponds Creek and Summer Hills Creek, later to become the site of the Township of Ophir, New South Wales. May Official announcement of the discovery of gold on 22 May 1851 not far from Bathurst, NSW. June July August 9th: Victoria has its first gold strike at Sovereign Hill near Ballarat. September 30th: Approximately 10,000 people are digging for gold near Ballarat. October November December 1852 January February March April May 24th: Taking advantage of the growing emigration and trade to Australia, Pilkington & Wilson, announce the imminent commencement of service from Liverpool to Australia by the "Liverpool White Star Line of Australian Packets". Pilkington and Wilson place many of their vessels on this new route. Outbound voyages from Liverpool transport immigrants and supplies to the developing colony, and inbound cargoes consist of whale oil, wool and gold. June 20th: The "Earl of Derby" weighing 2,000 tons and under the command of Capt. Tweedil, departs Liverpool for Melbourne. July 5th: The "Phoenix" displacing 1,700 tons and under the command of Capt. Solely, departs Liverpool for Sydney. 6th: The "Archer" displacing 237 tons and under the command of Capt. Stewart, enters for loading at Liverpool, with immediate dispatch to Geelong. The "Ellen" displacing 893 tons and under the command of Capt. Phillips, enters for loading at Liverpool, with immediate dispatch to Port Phillip. The "Birmingham" displacing 1,033 tons enters for loading at Liverpool, with immediate dispatch to Port Phillip. 13th: The "Ellen" displacing 1,800 tons berthed, departs Liverpool for Melbourne. 20th: The "Dundonald" displacing 2,000 tons and under the command of Capt. Gillies, departs Liverpool for Melbourne and Sydney. August 5th: The "Bhurtpore" displacing 1,000 tons and under the command of Capt. Bainbridge, departs Liverpool for Port Phillip. 8th: The "Ben Nevis" departs Liverpool under the command of Capt. William Herron on her first Austrailian trip and bound for Melbourne. 20th: The "Blanche" displacing 1,800 tons and under the command of Capt. Rudolph departs Liverpool for Sydney. September 5th: The "City of Lincoln" displacing 1,160 tons departs Liverpool for Melbourne. 27th: The "Ben Nevis" under the command of Capt. Herron departs Melbourne with 600 passengers aboard. October November December 1853 January 1853, Henry Wilson's daughter marries James Chambers. Jane Guy Wilson? Born: Galgate, Lancashire, England Christening: 11 NOV 1827 Ellel, Lancashire, England February March Robert Hickson opens a shipyard on Queen’s Island, Belfast, building iron-hulled ships. The company is named Robert Hickson & Co. 26th: Under the command of Capt. Rogers, the new "White Star" clipper "Lochiel" departs Liverpool, bound for Melbourne on her maiden voyage. April May 28th: Caldwell, Train & Co. in business at Melbourne. Shipping agents June July 9th: An article in a Melbourne newspaper reports on the new White Star clipper "Lochiel". A vessel of 809 tons, she is on her maiden voyage from Liverpool to Melbourne under the command of Captain Rogers August September October 4th: The clipper ship "Tayleur" is launched at Bank Quay Foundry, Warrington. She is owned by Charles Moore & Co., Liverpool, and is the largest merchant sailing vessel yet built in England. 24th: The "White Star" ship "Tasmania" is reported due to depart Hobart in a few days. November December 1854 January 9th: The "Mooresfort" is reported loading in Hobart and will sail in a few days. 19th: The "Tayleur" leaves Liverpool for Australia on her maiden voyage under the command of Capt. John Noble. 21st: The "Tayleur", carrying a reported 675 souls, is wrecked on her maiden voyage to Melbourne in a violent gale at noon on Lambay Island, Dublin Bay. More than 370 lives are lost as she sinks to the tops of her masts. After an investigation, blame was placed on the ship's owner, Charles A. Moore & Co., for not having the ship's compasses properly set nor conducting trial trips before putting her into service. In response to the Tayleur disaster, Pilkington & Wilson have their ships towed by steam tugs to Tuskar (at the mouth of the Irish Channel and some 300 miles out from Liverpool) when winds are adverse. February 28th: Caldwell, Train & Co., agents for the White Star Line of Australian Packets, announce that the White Star Line has arranged for the survivors of the "Tayleur" to be forwarded to Melbourne aboard the new "White Star" clipper "Golden Era" which is scheduled to depart Liverpool in March. March Edward Harland moves to Belfast and takes a position as General Manager at the Robert Hickson & Co. shipyard. 17th: The "Golden Era" is reported loading at Liverpool and will soon sail for Melbouyrne under the command of Capt. James Peat. April May 4th: The "Red Jacket", under the command of Capt. Reed, makes her first voyage for the White Star Line, from Liverpool to Melbourne. She is on charter from Seacombe and Taylor and is fully armed. June 13th: The "Golden Era" arrives at Melbourne. July 5th: The "Golden Era" departs Melbourne for Liverpool on the return leg of her maiden voyage. 13th: The "Red Jacket" arrives in Port Phillip at 11am. August 7th: The partnership of Caldwell, Train & Co. is dissolved. George Francis Train continues as agent for the White Star Line of Australian Packets as George F. Train and Co. George F. Train will become instrumental in the success of "White Star" through his innovations of establishing a rail line from the wharf to his warehouses which make for easy transport of goods and people. G. F. Train makes Melbourne a modern city. 31st: Legal action is taken against Pilkington & Wilson in the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria by one John Wynne to recover one thousand pounds, the value of forty five tons of slates, shipped on board the ship Red Jacket. September October Wilkinson, Brothers and Co., are agents for the "White Star" Line at Sydney. 15th: The "Red Jacket" returns to Liverpool. Pilkington & Wilson are so pleased by her that they buy her for £30,000. November 11th: Pilkington & Wilson apply to the Post Master General to carry the mails. December 1855 January February March April 30th: The "White Star" makes her first Liverpool-Melbourne trip. May 9th: Pilkington & Wilson are given a contract to carry mail between Liverpool and Melbourne. The company becomes the "White Star Line of Liverpool and Australian Royal Mail Packets." Conveyance of mails from Liverpool to Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne by specified monthly sailing's, June-Dec. 1855, to take not more then 68 days outwards and 68 days returning by Cape of Good Hope, or 70 days by Cape Horn. Penalties for delay £100 and £30 a day outwards and inwards respectively, to maximum of £250 per ship. June July August 31st: The "White Star" departs Port Philip on her return leg of her maiden voyage. She carries 80,000 ounces of gold September October November 27th: The "White Star" returns to Liverpool at the conclusion of her maiden voyage to Australia. Her trip takes 70 days and does not meet the contractual obligation to deliver the mails in 68 days. As a result, the company incurs penalties for late arrival. December 1856 January February March April May Arthur Brooks Bilbrough, aged 16 years, becomes an apprentice with the "White Star" Line in Liverpool. June Gustav Wolff becomes junior manager at Robert Hickson & Co shipyard. July 20th: The "Mermaid", under the command of Captain Dewey, departs for Melbourne. The "Miles Barton" under the command of Captain Kelly also departs for Melbourne. August September 4th: The contract to convey the mail is terminated. White Star uses the term "ex-Royal Mail Packets" in its name. October November The WSL establishes a house in London under the name Wilson, Cook & Co. and immediately starts laying on ships for the route from Melbourne. The "Mermaid" is the pioneer. December 20th: The "Cyclone" displacing 1,198 tons and under the command of Capt. George Kerr, departs Liverpool bound for Melbourne. 1857 January Thomas Henry Ismay partners with retired Captain Phillip Nelson and forms the ship brokerage firm "Nelson, Ismay & Co." February March Troubled by Wilson's business practices John Pilkington withdraws from the company. The company is now H. T. Wilson & Co. G. F. Train & Co. ceases most activities. H. T. Wilson & Co. becomes the agent for the White Star Line. 25th: The "Cyclone" displacing 1,198 tons and under the command of Capt. George Kerr, arrives at Hobson's Bay. April May June Edward Harland appoints Gustav Wolff as his assistant. Harland also buys Hickson out for the sum of £5,000, given to him by G.W. Schwabe who is Gustav Wollf's uncle. July August James Chambers becomes a partner with his father-in-law, H. T. Wilson. The company is now H. T. Wilson and Chambers. H. T. Wilson & Co. is also the agent for the White Star Line in Melbourne. September October November December 1858 January In 1858/59 H&W's first ship the "Venetian" is launched. February March April May June July August September October November 1st: With £5,000 loaned to him by G.W. Schwabe,Gustav Wollf's uncle, Edward Harland buys Robert Hickson's Belfast shipbuilding business and renames it Edward James Harland & Company. Gustav Wolff, who has been Harland's personal assistant for the past year, is appointed chief draftsman. 5th: The former offices and store belonging to George Francis Train are advertised as for sale in a Melbourne newspaper. December 1859 January February March April May June 7th: H. T. Wilson and Chambers begin a monthly line of packets for the leading ports of New Zealand. July August September October November December 1860 January 10th: The Government emigrant vessel Grand Trianon, displacing 1,049 tons, belonging to Messrs. Wilson and Chambers, of Liverpool, and under the command of Capt. H. Clark, departs Birkenhead for Adelaide, South Australia. Arthur Brooks Bilbrough moves to London becoming a partner with Albert Cook and Henry T . Wilson in a brokerage firm named H. T Wilson, Cook & Co. February March April May June July August September October November December 1861 January February March April 11th: Edward J. Harland (owner of Edward James Harland & Company, Belfast) and Gustav W. Wolff enter into a partnership agreement which creates Harland and Wolff. May June July August September October November December 1862 January Albert Cook dies and Arthur Brooks Bilbrough becomes the sole partner with H. T. Wilson in London. Wilson,Cook & Co. is renamed Wilson, Bilbrough & Co. 1862 - Harland & Wolff shipyard is registered Around 1862 Ismay founded the T. H. Ismay and Company in Liverpool. February March April May June July August 25th: The "Shalimar" departs Liverpool for Melbourne and New Zealand. September October 10th: The S. S Mavrocordatos arrives in Montreal, under charter to the "White Star Line of Steamships". November December 12th: Joseph Bruce Ismay is born at Enfield House, Great Crosby. 1863 January The partnership of Nelson and Ismay was dissolved in 1863. February March 25th: Owen Cosby Philipps, later Lord Kylsant, is born at Warminster, Wiltshire. He would go on to "purchase" the White Star Line in 1927 and with the help of his wife, ruin it and other businesses connected to it. April May June July August 1st: The "Royal Standard", is launched at Palmer Bros. & Co., Howdon-on-Tyne. The Royal Standard had a 2-cylinder engine of 165 horsepower which qualified her to be a steamship. The property of Messrs. Wilson and Chambers, she is the first screw steamer built for the White Star Line of Australian packets. September October November 23rd: The "Royal Standard", displacing 2,000 tons and under the command of Capt. E. J. Allen, departs Liverpool for Melbourne on her maiden voyage. December Construction of the Lune Shipbuilding Company is started. Henry T. Wilson, who had attended school in Lancaster and still having friends in the area,suggested months prior a company be created in Lancaster which would build ships for the White Star Line. £50,000 was raised raised in £5 shares to finance the construction of the shipyard at Lancaster Marsh on the banks of the Lune River. 1864 January 14th: Captain Allen of the "Royal Standard" dies aboard ship. February 9th: The "Royal Standard" arrives at Melbourne. She arrived under the command of her Chief Officer Hamilton. March 15th: The "Royal Standard" departs Melbourne under the command of Capt. George H. Dowell. She heads east across the Pacific, on the return leg of her maiden voyage. April 4th: The "Royal Standard" strikes an iceberg at about 11 am in dense fog midway between Melbourne and Cape Horn in the South Pacific. Although she suffered extensive damage to her masts and structures above the water line, no leaks were found after the event. She proceeds on to Rio de Janeiro for repairs and refitting. May 9th: The "Royal Standard" arrives at Rio, where the iceberg damage is repaired June 19th: The "Royal Standard" arrives at Liverpool. July August September October November December 1865 January February March 30th: The iron clipper "Wennington", named after a nearby village, is launched in front of a crowd of 15,000 people. She is the first iron-hulled vessel to be built in Lancaster, and displaced 882 tons. April May June July August September October November December 31st: James Chambers withdraws from the firm of H. T. Wilson & Chambers. John Cunningham replaces Chambers and the firm is renamed H. T. Wilson & Cunningham. 1866 January February March April May 23rd: The "Royal Standard" departs Liverpool, under the command of Capt. Whineray. This is her only transatlantic sailing, bound for New York and calling at Queenstown . This may have been the only transatlantic voyage by a steamer owned by White Star Line, before Ismay. June 10th: The "Royal Standard" arrives in New York. July August September 27th: The "Royal Standard" makes her final voyage, Liverpool to Melbourne, under the White Star Line flag. Although she has a steam engine, she is slower than many clipper ships. She is sold the following year and is converted to sail. October November December 1867 January The Lune Shipbuilding Company, having only produced 14 vessels in total and being poorly mismanaged and in debt, is sold to the Lancaster Shipowners Co. February March April May June July August September October November December 1868 January William J. Pirrie becomes an apprentice at H&W. 18th: Henry Threlfall Wilson's bad business practices aid in bankrupting the Royal Bank. Its failure causes the White Star Line to collapse under its debt burden. The partnership of H. T. Wilson & Cunningham goes into liquidation . February March April 7th: The White Star Line, along with five ships, passes to Ismay. Of the flag, Ismay commented that "It seemed rather dear" but it carried the power and influence of the old White Star. Shortly after the company went into liquidation and was sold for the paltry sum of £1,000 to thirty one year old Thomas Henry Ismay. Thomas H. Ismay was confident that there was room for a high-class Trans-Atlantic passenger service despite four great companies already maintaining a regular weekly service between Liverpool and New York. Cunard had been established for some thirty years, the Inman Line possessed a fine fleet of clipper passenger steamers, the Guion Line a large American connection, and the National Line a fleet of large cargo carriers. Gustav Schwabe held a dinner at his eatate; Broughton Hall, which was attended by Thomas H. Ismay, William Imrie, and Gustav Wolff. After dinner the men retired for a game of billiards during which Scwabe proposed that he would provide partial funding and his expertise to finance the line if Ismay would have Harland and Wolff build the ships. Harland & Wolff was in financial trouble following the loss of an Admiralty contract and the deals cut that night saved Harland and Wolff and set the stage for a long a prosperous future for both the White Star Line and Harland and Wolff. May June July August September October November December 1869 January February March April May June July 30th: Harland and Wolff receive their first orders for three ships of 3,700 tons each deemed the "Oceanic Class" from the White Star Line under an agreement that they would build the ships at cost plus a fixed percentage. The ships were the Oceanic (I), Atlantic, Baltic, with a fourth later added named Republic. August September 6th: The Oceanic Steam Navigation Company Ltd is registered with 400 shares in the new company offered at £1,000 each fully paid. Thomas H. Ismay and George Hamilton; the general manager, each acquired 50 shares. Other investors included Edward J. Harland and Gustav Wolff of Harland and Wolff, and Gustav Christian Schwabe. Of the 400 shares offered, only 156 were immediately sold due to concerns that the new company would be unable to compete with those already established. October 10th: The "Royal Standard" (formerly of Wilson & Chambers' White Star Line) is wrecked near Cape St. Thomas, Brazil. November 1st: Henry Threlfall Wilson dies at Surbiton at the age of 44. December 1870 January William Imrie joins T. H. Ismay, and the firm was renamed Ismay, Imrie & Co. February March April May June July August September October November December 1871 January February March 1st: The first announcement of the White Star Line under Ismay, Imrie and Co is announced. 2nd: The White Star Line's new Trans Atlantic service begins operating on with the maiden voyage of the "Oceanic" between Liverpool and New York with a call at Queenstown April May June July August September October November December 1872 January February March April May June July August September October November December 1873 January February March April May June July August September October November December - HOME - Copyright 1998 - 2012 wslmf.org