Allan Line

A poster showing fares and schedule for Allan Line ships across the Atlantic towards the end of the 19th century

TheAllan Shipping Linewas started in 1819, byCaptain Alexander AllanofSaltcoats,Ayrshire,trading and transporting betweenScotlandandMontreal,a route which quickly became synonymous with the Allan Line. By the 1830s the company had offices inGlasgow,LiverpoolandMontreal.All five of Captain Allan's sons were actively involved with the business, but it was his second son,Sir Hugh Allan,who spearheaded the second generation. In 1854, Hugh launched theMontreal Ocean Steamship Companyas part of the Allan Line, and two years later oustedSamuel Cunardto take control of theRoyal Mailcontract betweenBritainandNorth America.By the 1880s, the Allan Line was the world's largest privately owned shipping concern.

In 1891, the company took over the State Line (founded 1872) and was often referred to as the Allan & State Line. In 1897,Andrew Allanamalgamated the various branches of the Allan shipping empire under one company,Allan Line Steamship Company Ltd., of Glasgow.The company by then had added offices inBostonandLondon.In 1917, underSir Montagu Allan,who represented the third generation of the Allan family, the company was purchased byCanadian Pacific Steamships,and by the following year the Allan name had disappeared from commercial shipping.

Media

The 1970s British television seriesThe Onedin Line(1971-1980) is a complex and veiled take on the Allan Line Family and their steamships.^{[citation needed]}

Notable collisions

In 1891, the Allan Line steamerCarthaginiancollided with the York River Line steamerCharlottein the shipping channel atBaltimore,Maryland.Among those aboard the Carthaginian was the Danish-American composerAsger Hamerik.While both boats were damaged, neither sank.^{[ProQuest Historical Newspapers 1]}

In 1905, the Allan Line steamerParisianwas involved in a collision with theAlbanooff ofHalifax, Nova Scotia.The owners of theAlbanowere found by the Exchequer Court of Canada to be fully at fault, according toReports of Cases Relating to Maritime Law.^[1]The case was later appealed to Canada's supreme court.