CHAPTER XVI

.

MESSRS. DAVID MACIVER & CO.

The firm of Messrs. David MacIver & Co. was originally founded by the late Mr. David MacIver and his brother Charles, in 1835. Mr. David MacIver had some four years prior to this date formed a steamship company to trade between Liverpool and Glasgow, which he called the City of Glasgow Steampacket Co. The pioneer steamer was named the CITY OF GLASGOW, and sailed on her first voyage from Liverpool on the 25th April, 1831. Three other steamers were quickly added to the fleet, viz., the SOLWAY, VULCAN and JOHN WOOD, the latter steamer being named after a celebrated shipbuilder of Port Glasgow. In 1835 the CITY OF GLASGOW (second) was added to the fleet, and the same year Mr. Charles MacIver joined his brother, and the style of the firm was altered to Messrs. David MacIver & Co., from that of the City of Glasgow Steampacket Co. On the 1st of June, 1837, the celebrated steamer COMMODORE was launched by Mr. John Wood, and made her first voyage, sailing from the Prince’s Pierhead, Liverpool, on the 6th March, 1838. The COMMODORE was at that time considered to be the most powerful, most comfortable, and fastest sea-going steamer afloat. The sister ship of this splendid steamer, the ADMIRAL, was launched in the beginning of the year 1840, and proved a faster vessel than her consort. On her trial trip on the 2nd April, 1840, with a full deadweight cargo, she ran 16 miles in 56½ minutes, being five minutes less time than it was ever done by any other steamer.

In 1840 a Mail Steamship Service between Liverpool, Canada and the United States was established, the respective agents being Mr. Samuel Cunard, Halifax; Messrs. J. & G. Burns, Glasgow; and Messrs. David and Charles MacIver, Liverpool, the latter being the practical managers of the company. This service, which afterwards acquired a worldwide reputation as the “Cunard Line,” was modestly inaugurated by the despatch of the Liverpool and Glasgow steamer UNICORN (Captain Douglas), which sailed from Liverpool for Halifax and Boston on Saturday morning, 16th May, 1840. After she completed her outward voyage, she continued to ply between Pictou and Quebec, in connection with the British and North American Royal Mail Steamers.

In 1850 was instituted the steamship service between Liverpool and Havre, the pioneer steamer being the COMMODORE, the well-known and favourite Liverpool and Glasgow steampacket. The coasting services were then carried on in the name of Charles MacIver & Co. About the same date, steamship services to the Mediterranean were begun. The Havre and the Mediterranean business was conducted in the name of Burns and MacIver.

The elder of the two brothers (the founders of the “MacIver” steamship business), Mr. David MacIver, died unmarried in 1845. His brother, the late Mr. Charles MacIver, of Calderstones, then became the head of the firm, which position he held until his decease in 1885. In 1863 Mr. Charles MacIver admitted his eldest son, Mr. David MacIver, the present M.P. for the Kirkdale Division of Liverpool, into partnership. Mr. David MacIver remained a partner in the firms of D. & C. MacIver, Charles MacIver & Co. and Burns & MacIver for eleven years, when he retired from all three firms, and established an entirely separate steamship business, resuscitating the old title of David MacIver & Co. The first steamer built under the new regime was the TUSCANY. She was built in 1876 by Messrs. J. & G. Thomson, Glasgow, and engined by the same eminent firm. After running in Messrs. David MacIver & Co.’s service for a number of years, she was purchased by Portuguese owners, and she is believed to have again changed owners and to be now sailing under the Spanish flag as the MARGARITA.

The SICILY, the second steamer of the fleet, was built and engined by Messrs. Laird, Birkenhead, in 1876, and was sold to the Cullum Steam Shipping Co., of London.

The following year (1877) the THESSALY and BARBARY were built for the firm by the builders of the SICILY. The latter steamer was sold, first to Messrs. Booth & Co., who changed her name to the CLEMENT, and subsequently to the Cia de Cabotagem do Grão Para, by whom she was named the MARAJO, and placed under the Brazilian flag.

After an interval of five years, the ALBANY was contracted for, also with the Messrs. Laird, of Birkenhead. Mr. David MacIver’s connection with Birkenhead is one of very long standing, and he has always laboured to promote its welfare and prosperity. In recognition of his services, he was the elected representative of the Borough from 1874 to 1885. The ALBANY was considerably larger than any of her predecessors, her principal dimensions being—Length 300 feet 7 inches, breadth 39 feet 2 inches, and depth 26 feet 4 inches; with a deadweight capacity of about 3,500 tons. She was purchased by Messrs. T. W. Lunn & Co., of Newcastle-on-Tyne, by whom she was re-named the WILLOWDENE.

A reference to the list of steamers built for Messrs. David MacIver & Co. will show the distinguishing characteristic of the names to be the terminal letter Y. An amusing incident occurred in this connection during the building of the steamer ALBANY. A firm of north country shipowners, whose steamers were named after British dukes (omitting the prefix “Duke of”), had selected “ALBANY” for a vessel then under construction, and they made the cool request to Messrs. David MacIver & Co. to change the name of their steamer. It is needless to say they were unable to comply with this request.

For the first few years, the steamers named were not employed in any regular trade, though originally designed for the Mediterranean—hence the names TUSCANY, SICILY, BARBARY, THESSALY, &c.—but traded, as inducement offered, to the Mediterranean, the Danube, the Black Sea, and elsewhere. They have formed part of the Anchor Line to Bombay, and of the Hall Line to the same port; and they have operated in the North Atlantic in the service of Messrs. Richardson, Spence and Co., between Liverpool and Philadelphia.

In 1883 Messrs. David MacIver & Co. despatched their first steamer to the River Plate, and two years later they established a regular service between Liverpool and Buenos Ayres, Montevideo and Rosario.

In 1893, Mr. Charles Livingston, who had been associated with Mr. MacIver for two years previously, became a partner in the firm. Mr. Livingston takes a very active part in the management of the steamers, and he has devoted himself with great energy and success to the development of the River Plate trade with Great Britain. The five steamers named having become too small for the requirements of the service in which they were engaged, were disposed of, as stated, to various buyers and replaced by modern steamers of greater capacity and higher speed. These later steamers have all been designed specially for the River Plate trade, and although large carriers, are of remarkably light draught, thus enabling them to ascend to Rosario, without putting consignees and shippers to the risk and expense of transhipping cargo.

In 1894 contracts were placed with Sir Raylton Dixon & Co., Middlesbrough, for three steamers of exactly similar dimensions and engine power. The first of these was the SAXONY, launched December, 1894. She is a steel screw steamer of 3,500 tons deadweight, and fitted with triple-expansion engines (constructed by Blair & Co., Ltd., Stockton) working up to about 1,500 horse-power effective. The following month (January, 1895) her sister ship, the NORMANDY, was delivered, and February of the same year witnessed the completion of the third vessel, the LOMBARDY.

The steamer which succeeded these was 1,000 tons larger. She is named the BRITTANY, and was built in 1898 by Messrs. Richardson, Duck & Co., Stockton. She is a steel screw steamer, 330 feet long, by 43 feet beam and 16 feet 6 inches depth, with a deadweight carrying capacity of 4,500 tons. She is, like all her sister ships, propelled by triple-expansion engines constructed by Blair & Co., Ltd., Stockton.

The opening of the 20th century was marked by a further and an important advance in the carrying capacity of the firm’s steamers. Contracts were placed with Messrs. Richardson, Duck & Co. for three steamers, two of which are each of about 6,500 tons, and the third of about 5,500 tons deadweight. The first of the trio, the BARBARY (second of that name) was delivered in May, 1901, and the TARTARY in July following. Both these vessels are practically identical as regards size and power. They are each 370 feet long, with a beam of 48 feet 1 inch, and a depth of 19 feet and a half. Their engines (triple-expansion) develop 3,000 horse-power. In November of the same year the BURGUNDY, a vessel of somewhat smaller dimensions, was completed.

The fleet of Messrs. David MacIver & Co.’s line to the River Plate at present consists of seven full-powered steamers, but before the close of the present year an eighth steamer, the ARABY, now in course of construction, and of about the same dimensions as the BURGUNDY, will be placed on the service. Formerly the steamers were each registered as a single ship company, but in 1900 they were all incorporated in David MacIver, Sons and Co., Ltd.

The Directors of the Limited Company are David MacIver, Esq., M.P., his son Charles MacIver, Esq., and Charles Livingston, Esq. The steamers of Messrs. David MacIver and Co.’s line are deservedly popular with shippers and consignees in the River Plate trade, who are able to depend upon them for regularity of service and careful handling of their goods, and with underwriters for their freedom from serious accidents. All the steamers are comparatively new, and are fitted with the most modern and perfect appliances for the rapid and effective loading and discharging of general cargo.

Special attention has been given by the Company to the transit of cattle to and from the River Plate, and each of the steamers is fitted with permanent fittings for the conveyance of live stock. The headquarters of Messrs. David MacIver and Co.’s line are, and have always been situated in Liverpool, from which port it maintains a regular fortnightly service to and from Buenos Ayres, Montevideo and Rosario, throughout the year.

##