White Star Line began as a bankrupt sailing and steam packet salvaged by Thomas H. Ismay when he purchased the name for 1,000 pounds sterling on January 18, 1868. The line had known other owners, but most met with problems and even disaster. Immediately Ismay and his partner arranged a deal with Harrland and Wolff to construct the four new steamships for the Oceanic Steam Navigation Company, Ltd. - White Star's official name with the first being launched on August 27, 1870. The Oceanic was a record breaker and innovator in steamship design. The other ships named Atlantic, Baltic and Republic completed the set. Soon more ships were added to the fleet including the larger Celtic and Adriatic. Notice the names all end in "ic". This would be a theme that would play out throughout the company's history including the famed TITANIC.
White Star Line would be known for large, comfortable ships that offered their passengers every form of luxury. This came at the expense of speed, but made their ships favorites of many of the world's most wealthy passengers.
The Republic was involved in an incident where the Florida, a Lloyd Italiano liner outbound from Naples collided with and damaged the Republic, prompting the first wireless distress call in history. White Star's Baltic responded to the call and provided help to the 1,650 passengers and crew proving that with the aid of the wireless, help would always be close enough and that lifeboats would be needed AT MOST for ferrying passengers to and from a damaged ship - never would there be a need for lifeboat seats for all on board. This happened January 23, 1909. Many feel that it set the stage for Titanic on April 14, 1912.
White Star Line was finally forced to merge with Cunard Line to secure funds needed to complete the two Queens Cunard was planning. The issue was government subsidies. Supporting two lines during the lean times of the depression was more that the British government was ready to take on - supporting one large, unified effort was acceptable - Cunard White Star Line was born. The background of this page shows the combination of the two house flags, Cunard above White Star - as it was used.
Some notable ships of the White Star fleet include:
Germanic - an early White Star steamer 1875 - 1904
Titanic 1912 (lost maiden voyage April 10 - April 14, 1912)
