5100 x 3818 px | 43,2 x 32,3 cm | 17 x 12,7 inches | 300dpi
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The Cunard Line is a British (and, in recent years, British-American) shipping company that has been a leading operator of passenger ships on the North Atlantic since its beginning in 1840 to the present. Cunard established that a scheduled trans-Atlantic steamship service could be sustained year-round. The history of the line is essentially the history of the Atlantic ferry. Originally formed in 1840 as the British and North American Royal Mail Steam-Packet Company, the firm was reorganized in 1878 as Cunard Steamship Company, Limited to meet increased competition from its rivals, the White Star Line and the Inman Line. Operations were combined with White Star in 1934 under the name Cunard White-Star Limited with Cunard Steamship owning roughly two-thirds of the new firm. Cunard purchased White Star's share in 1947 and the name reverted to the Cunard Line in 1950. The company is currently owned by the Carnival Corporation and operates the Queen Mary 2 (QM2) and the Queen Victoria (QV). In 1836, a Committee of Parliament decided that mail packets managed by the Post Office should be replaced by contracts with private shipping companies and that the Admiralty should assume responsibility. Famed Arctic explorer, Admiral Sir William Edward Parry was appointed as Comptroller of Steam Machinery and Packet Service in April 1837. Nova Scotians lead by their young Assembly Speaker, Joseph Howe lobbied for steam service to Halifax. On his arrival in London in May 1838, Howe discussed his ideas with a fellow Nova Scotian, the shipowner Sir Samuel Cunard (1787 - 1865) who was also visiting London on business. Cunard and Howe were associates and Howe also owed Cunard 300 pounds. Cunard returned to Halifax to raise capital and Howe continued to lobby the British government. The Rebellions of 1837 were still ongoing and London realized that the proposed Halifax service was also important for defense reasons.
