Cunard Line

Bates joined the Cunard Line in 1910, becoming deputy chairman in 1922 and chairman in 1930. He maintained that two large, fast ships could operate the North Atlantic express passenger services better than could three smaller ones. He negotiated the amalgamation of the White Star Line with Cunard…

…of the founders of the Cunard Line.

Cunard liners continued to be leaders, though soon joined by French, German, U.S., and other ships, subsidized by their national governments and competing in size, speed, and passenger accommodations.

…Company, generally known as the Cunard Line. Its first ship, the Unicorn, set out for America on May 15, 1840. The first mail steamer was the Britannia, which left Liverpool on July 4, 1840. Later Cunard ships included the famed Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, and Queen Elizabeth II. He was…

In 1840 the Cunard Line launched four paddle steamers with auxiliary sails—the Britannia, Acadia, Columbia, and Caledonia—which with their long line of successors became the leaders in a drive for speed and safety on the North Atlantic. From 1840 until the outbreak of the American Civil War, the…

…which was owned by the Cunard Line, was built to compete for the highly lucrative transatlantic passenger trade. Construction began in 1904, and, after completion of the hull and main superstructure, the Lusitania was launched on June 7, 1906. The liner was completed the following year, at which time it…

…ships belonging to the British Cunard Line that successfully crossed over from the age of the transatlantic ocean liner to the age of the global cruise ship.

…lines were White Star and Cunard. By the summer of 1907, Cunard seemed poised to increase its share of the market with the debut of two new ships, the Lusitania and the Mauretania, which were scheduled to enter service later that year. The two passenger liners were garnering much attention…