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42-657: In 1848, John Stanton Williams (c. 1810–1876) and Stephen Barker Guion (1820-1885) formed the New York firm of Williams and Guion to operate the Black Star Line of sailing packets on the Liverpool-Queenstown-New York route. In 1852, Guion relocated to Liverpool as the firm's agent while Williams remained in New York. The next year, Guion's older brother, William H. Guion joined the firm's New York office. The Black Star Line concentrated on

84-487: A fleet of "Beaver Ships" cargo liners for fast freight service in the 1920s, which were some of the most advanced steam freighters of their time: Beaverford , Beaverdale , Beaverburn , Beaverhill and Beaverbrae . In 1939, the CP Ship Empress of Australia transported King George VI and his royal consort, Queen Elizabeth from London , England to Quebec City for the 1939 royal tour of Canada . This

126-559: A model of container shipping from passenger, freight and mail service in the 1960s due to competitive pressure from the airline industry. The company was a part of the Canadian Pacific Ltd. conglomerate. It was spun out as a separate company in 2001. In 2005, it was purchased by TUI AG and is now part of the company's Hapag-Lloyd division. The Atlantic and Pacific passenger liners of Canadian Pacific were always British-flagged and largely British-manned and were not part of

168-503: A month later, forcing a liquidation of the now named Guion and Company. The line was reorganized as a public stock corporation to settle the estates. The new directors, chaired by Sir William Pearce himself, continued a weekly schedule with the old Nevada , Wisconsin and Wyoming along with the relatively new Arizona and Alaska , while Abyssinia was put on long-term charter to the Canadian Pacific Line . In 1886,

210-459: A reef near Tokyo, and she was subsequently towed to Yokohama where she was scrapped. Empress of India would continue in service through 1914. RMS Empress of Japan sailed regularly from 1891 through 1922. These three ships and the others which comprised the "Empress fleet" carried mail, passengers, and freight speedily across the Pacific for over half a century. In 1903, the company took over

252-530: A reputation for innovative engineering. Guion's Wisconsin and Wyoming were the first liners on the Atlantic built with compound engines. Unfortunately, Guion's ships also had a reputation for being slow. In 1873, the New York Times urged the U.S. Post Office to contract with another line because of the long passage times of Guion ships. The five-year shipping depression beginning in 1873 changed

294-427: A ship that crammed the most powerful machinery possible into the hull, sacrificing everything to speed. When Cunard rejected his proposal, Pearce offered his idea to Guion at a bargain price of £140,000 at a time when express liners typically cost £200,000. He also agreed to share the initial costs. Financially stressed after a series of shipwrecks, Guion was pleased with the arrangement. Stephen Guion personally owned

336-498: The Port of Liverpool finished with the sale of Empress of Canada . In 1984, CP Ships entered a joint venture with Compagnie Maritime Belge called Canada Maritime to secure North Atlantic container traffic for its rail facilities at the Port of Montreal . This "new" company prospered and the fortunes of CP Ships revived in the early 1990s. In 1993 Canadian Pacific bought out its partner and merged it with CP Ships. The next decade saw

378-479: The 1810s is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This biography related to ship transport is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Canadian Pacific Line CP Ships was a large Canadian shipping company established in the 19th century. From the late 1880s until after World War II , the company was Canada's largest operator of Atlantic and Pacific steamships. Many immigrants travelled on CP ships from Europe to Canada. In 1914

420-573: The British Royal Navy , not CP Ships. For example, RMS Princess Irene and RMS Princess Margaret were requisitioned at the point of completion by the British Royal Navy for war service. They were manned by naval personnel, not CP. Neither ship was delivered to CP – Princess Irene exploded in 1915 and Princess Margaret was purchased by the Admiralty after the war. CP purchased eleven new steamships to replace its losses during

462-482: The British government reached agreement on a contract for subsidised mail service between Britain and Hong Kong via Canada. The route began to be serviced by three specially designed Empress liners— RMS  Empress of China , RMS  Empress of India and RMS  Empress of Japan . Each of these "Empress" steamships sailed regularly in the period from 1891 through 1912. In that year, Empress of China struck

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504-875: The Canadian Merchant Marine, ownership being with the British-registered Canadian Pacific Steamships Ltd. subsidiary. In the early 1880s, the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) negotiated with the Government of the United Kingdom to establish trans-Pacific steamship routes between Vancouver , British Columbia and the Far East . The trans-Pacific services of Canadian Pacific were begun by Sir William Cornelius Van Horne ,

546-562: The Canadian-American builder of the railroad network in 1887. In that year, Sir William chartered three vessels from Cunard Line ; SS  Abyssinia , SS  Parthia , and SS  Batavia —as a beginning of the CP fleet. The agency for chartering and managing the ships was secured by Adamson, Bell and Company for the first three years. When the new shipping line had shown to be profitable, Canadian Pacific decided not to renew

588-644: The Liverpool and Great Western Steamship Company in Great Britain to operate a quartet of 2,900 GRT liners for a weekly service to New York. Although 52% of the capital came from the Williams and Guion partnership, the Guion Line was formed as a British company because American law only allowed U.S.-built ships to be registered in the U.S., and American shipyards were incapable at that time of building

630-613: The character of the Guion Line. By 1875, the fleet was reduced to the four newest ships. The directors decided that they needed record breakers to change the company's image and ordered two 17 knot steamers, the Montana and the Dakota , to win the Blue Riband. However, both ships proved to be major failures and only achieved 11.5 knots in service. In 1877, Dakota became a total loss after stranding off Anglesey , and in 1880 Montana

672-618: The collision. Four minutes later the ship had sunk. Only 465 survivors were rescued. A board of inquiry found Storstad responsible for the sinking. Canadian Pacific was an important contributor to the Merchant Navy (United Kingdom) in World War I. Like other shipping companies, Canadian Pacific provided ships to carry troops in both World Wars. CP lost 18 ships in the war. In World War I, some ships were refitted as armed merchantmen or auxiliary minelayers . These were operated by

714-560: The company acquired its last three steam passenger ships Empress of Britain , Empress of England and Empress of Canada . Competition from airlines forced CP to retire these ships in the 1970s. The company looked towards bulk carrier and tanker fleets as replacements for its steamships. In 1971, the company changed its name to CP Ships Ltd. Container ships added as Intermodal freight transport became popular. Intermodal transportation integrated well with CP's rail assets. In 1972, CP Ships regular transatlantic passenger service from

756-989: The company grow through acquisition. In April 1995 CP Ships purchased the Cast Group out of a bankruptcy proceeding, and subsequently bought Lykes Lines in July 1997 also out of bankruptcy, Contship Containerlines in October 1997 at a profitable level, Australia-New Zealand Direct Line in December 1998 also being profitable, Ivaran Lines in May 1998 (unprofitable), TMM Lines (unprofitable, 50% in January 1999, rest 50% in January 2000), in August 2000 Christensen Canadian African Lines (CCAL) at small profitability and Italia Line in August 2002 at breakeven business results. By 2001 it

798-567: The contract with Adamson, Bell and Company and to run the line itself. In 1891, CPR adopted a new name — the Canadian Pacific Steamship Company (CPSC). The CPSC became one of the many shipping companies operating in and out of Liverpool. The company expanded as people emigrating from Europe to North America provided a larger number of passengers and the company also started holiday cruises. As with other shipping companies, CPSC had larger ships built to cope with

840-491: The demand. In the late 19th century, CPR initiated an ocean-going service between the port of Vancouver and Hong Kong , with calls at Japan and China, and later at Manila , Philippine Islands and Honolulu , Hawaii . This service provided a link for CPR's transcontinental railroad passenger and freight services. Passengers could travel from England to Eastern Canada, travel across the railway to Vancouver, and on to Asian destinations. During 1887, temporary steamship service

882-498: The firm was restructured in 1883 to settle his estate. Then in January 1884, Stephen Guion's older brother, William, resigned from the firm because of bad investments unrelated to the steamship line. Unable to make payments to the shipbuilder, Stephen Guion returned the current Blue Riband holder, Oregon , to the Elders, who sold her to Cunard. Stephen himself died in December 1885, and his 37-year-old nephew, William H. Guion Jr., died

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924-426: The iron-hulled screw steamers required to compete on this route. Guion took advantage of an 1846 legal decision that considered a British corporation as a British citizen even if its shareholders were largely foreigners. By 1870, the Guion Line ranked third in the delivery of immigrants to New York, with 27,054 steerage passengers, but only 1,115 first class. The line's eight ships were known as good sea-boats and had

966-606: The largest ship lost to enemy action during the Battle of the Atlantic . Losses also included all of its fleet of "Beaver ship" cargo liners. Company ships participated in both the Battle of the Atlantic and the Battle of the Pacific . Despite their extensive and dangerous war service, the CP mariners, part of the Merchant Navy , were denied veterans' benefits by the Canadian Government until 1988. From 1956 to 1961,

1008-435: The line was granted a share of the British transatlantic mail contract. However, the company's reputation was hurt in 1891 when the recently returned Abyssinia burned at sea, fortunately without loss of life. In 1892, the cholera scare caused New York officials to quarantine vessels arriving with steerage passengers. The Wyoming was one of the ships detained and a crewman on the ship died of cholera. Immigration regulation

1050-469: The most notable military action in the company's history in 1940 as part of Convoy HX 84 when she engaged the German Deutschland -class cruiser Admiral Scheer for five hours before sinking with all hands, a sacrifice that allowed most of convoy HX 84 to escape. The company lost twelve vessels due to enemy action which is a larger loss than any Western company. Empress of Britain was

1092-526: The new vessel. Guion's 16-knot Arizona took the eastbound record, but not the Blue Riband (i.e. the westbound record). Arizona also won considerable publicity when on an early voyage she hit an iceberg head-on, telescoping 25 feet of her bow. She returned to St. John's, where a temporary wooden bow was fitted until permanent repairs were made in Scotland. Guion advertised this incident as proof of

1134-600: The new year. An 11-foot (3 m) scale model of the ship was put on display in Canadian Pacific's New York offices. In an effort to lure American-Chinese passengers to sail with CPR from North America to Shanghai and Hong Kong, prominent members of the Chinese community in New York were invited to examine the scale model and its amenities. In 1915, CP changed the name of its shipping business to Canadian Pacific Steamships Ocean Services Ltd. In 1891, CPR and

1176-546: The remaining assets. All built for Guion unless otherwise indicated—presented in order of acquisition. John Stanton Williams John Stanton Williams (8 October 1814 – 14 November 1876) with Stephen Barker Guion owned and operated the Williams & Guion Black Star Line . He was born in 1814 and married Mary Maclay Pentz (c. 1810–1891). They owned a 121-acre (0.49 km ) tract in Somerset, New Jersey , which

1218-412: The ship's strength. Two years later, Guion took delivery of an even faster Blue Riband winner, the 17-knot Alaska , also personally owned by Guion. To continue the program, Pearce offered Guion favorable terms on a third unit, the 18-knot Oregon of 1883. While these ships were uncomfortable, they proved popular with American clients because of their American ownership. In 1876, John Williams died and

1260-746: The ships and services of the Beaver Line and began operating ships on the Atlantic between Halifax , Nova Scotia and the United Kingdom . In 1906, two vessels were built in Scotland: RMS ; Empress of Britain and RMS Empress of Ireland . These two vessels had a full capacity of 1,530 passengers. There were accommodations for 310 first class, 470 second class passengers, 500 third class and 250 steerage passengers. The CP transported many immigrants from Europe to Canada, primarily from Great Britain and Scandinavia . CP acquired

1302-657: The sinking of the Canadian Pacific steamship RMS  Empress of Ireland just before World War I became largest maritime disaster in Canadian history. The company provided Canadian Merchant Navy vessels in World Wars I and II. Twelve vessels were lost due to enemy action in World War II, including the RMS ; Empress of Britain , which was the largest ship ever sunk by a German U-boat . The company moved to

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1344-596: The steerage trade and ultimately owned 18 sailing ships. Black Star was shut down in 1863 because of the success of iron-screw liners in attracting steerage passengers and the danger of Confederate commerce raiders during the Civil War. Stephen Guion, by now a naturalized British citizen, contracted with the Cunard Line and the National Line to provide steerage passengers. In 1866, Stephen Guion incorporated

1386-655: The successful Allan Line , and expanded to become a major international cargo carrier and operators of luxury passenger liners such as Empress of Britain and Empress of Canada . In 1914, the Empress of Ireland collided with the Norwegian collier SS  Storstad in the Saint Lawrence River . The Empress sank in just 14 minutes and 1,012 perished. Its death toll makes it the deadliest maritime disaster in Canadian history. Empress of Ireland

1428-556: The war. New liners including RMS  Empress of Australia , RMS  Empress of Britain , RMS  Duchess of Atholl , SS  Duchess of Bedford , SS  Duchess of Richmond and SS  Duchess of York served on the Atlantic Ocean, while RMS  Empress of Canada and RMS  Empress of Japan were among the largest liners on the Pacific Ocean during the inter-war period. The company also built

1470-564: Was donated to the Canadian Museum of Science and Technology . There are several notable civilian events in the CP fleet. CP ships served in the Merchant Navy (United Kingdom) in World War I. CP ships served in the Canadian Merchant Navy in World War II. Twelve ships were lost to direct enemy action. Two additional ships were lost to accidents. · 2013 Name Canadian Pacific Steamships Ltd (abandoned by TUI AG)

1512-465: Was heading down the channel near Pointe-au-Père , Quebec in heavy fog. At 02:00 Storstad crashed into the side of the CP liner. Storstad , though damaged, did not sink. Empress of Ireland took severe damage to her starboard side and began to list and take on water. Some passengers managed to get into lifeboats quickly. The ship began to list too far, and additional life rafts were not able to be launched. The ship rolled to its side ten minutes after

1554-548: Was inherited by their son, Stephen Guion Williams, on February 28, 1891. He died in 1876. Stephen Guion Williams earned the first Ph.D. from Columbia University in political science in 1883. By 1892 he was a practicing law in New York City. Tulipwood was built for him in 1892 and was the third house built by Williams family members on that site. On November 9, 1914, he married Charlotte Grosvenor Wyeth. This article about an American businessperson born in

1596-626: Was initiated on a Vancouver- Yokohama -Hong Kong route. From 1887 through 1941, the Canadian Pacific Railway provided steamship service between Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia , Canada and Hong Kong with calls at Japan and China, and later at Manila, Philippine Islands and Honolulu, Hawaii. Three ships were built at Barrow-in-Furness in England, and the three sailed together towards Vancouver in 1890, with initial voyages projected for January 15, February 15, and March 15 of

1638-473: Was lost after she also stranded only a few miles away from her sister. Guion purchased Cunard's ten-year-old Abyssinia to take her place in the schedule. William Pearce, the controlling partner of the John Elder shipyard , was convinced that a crack steamer that carried only passengers and light freight could be profitable because she would attract more passengers and spend less time in port. He proposed

1680-477: Was taken over by the Federal Government and steamship lines were made responsible for returning any immigrants found unfit. In December 1892, Guion directors decided to retire the three oldest steamers, which were primarily in the steerage trade. In 1894, outpaced by the latest twin-screw liners from Cunard, White Star and Inman, the directors also withdrew the two former record breakers and liquidated

1722-428: Was the first-ever visit by the monarch to a dominion. The king chose to visit Canada using a Canadian luxury liner rather than an established British royal yacht . Empress of Australia was considered to be a royal yacht after her use by the king. In World War II, the CP fleet carried over a million tons of cargo and a million troops and civilians during World War II. One CP ship, the freighter SS Beaverford , made

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1764-800: Was the seventh largest carrier in the world, and dominated the North Atlantic. When it was spun off into a separate company it represented 8% of Canadian Pacific's revenues and was a source for a large portion of CPR's rail traffic — much originating from CP Ships' Montreal Gateway Terminals. On August 21, 2005, German conglomerate TUI AG offered to acquire CP Ships Limited for € 1.7 billion ( US $ 2.0 billion) in cash, and merge it with TUI's Hapag-Lloyd division. On October 19, 2005, CP Ships and TUI AG jointly announced that 89.1% of CP Ships shareholders had accepted Ship Acquisition Inc.'s August 30 offer for US$ 21.50 per share on October 25, 2005. CP Ships archives were held by CP Limited until 2012 when it

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