The Rise and Fall of Inman Line

The Inman Line's story is a fascinating one, marked by both incredible success and devastating failure. The company's roots date back to 1851, when it was founded by Edward Inman, an American entrepreneur.

The Inman Line's early years were marked by growth and expansion, with the company establishing a reputation for luxury and innovation in the shipping industry. Its fleet of ships, including the RMS City of Paris, was renowned for its comfort and style.

Inman Line's heyday was in the late 19th century, with the company operating a fleet of over 20 ships and employing thousands of people worldwide. Its ships sailed between the US and Europe, carrying everything from passengers to cargo.

The company's success was short-lived, however, as it struggled with financial difficulties and declining passenger numbers in the early 20th century.

You might enjoy: Diamond S Shipping Group Inc.

Inman Line Ships were a key part of the company's operations, with the fleet initially formed in 1850 as the Liverpool & Philadelphia SS Co.

The company's ships catered to the emigrant trade, adding steerage berths in 1852 to accommodate the growing demand.

Inman Line's ships were employed on Crimean War service from 1854 to 1856, temporarily halting the transatlantic service.

The company's ships resumed transatlantic service in April 1856, and by 1859, Queenstown was added as a passenger call to cater to the Irish emigrant trade.

Here are the rates of passage for Inman Line Ships:

Note that these rates include provisions and steward's fee, but not wines or liquors, which can be had on board.

Freight rates varied depending on the location, with Liverpool charges at £4 per ton measurement and Philadelphia rates according to agreement.

Take a look at this: Maersk Line Shipping Rates

The SS City of New York made a remarkable journey in 1888, leaving New York on August 22nd and arriving off Brow Head on August 28th at 8:30 P.M.

This impressive achievement took 6 days, 3 hours, and 53 minutes, a notable feat considering the City of Paris had previously set the record at 5 days and 23 hours.

Intriguing read: City of Dublin Steam Packet Company

The City of New York's speed was evident on its westward trip, beating its own record by 10 hours and 37 minutes.

The ship's success was likely influenced by the attractive advertisements of the Inman Line, which featured colorful lithographs of the City of New York and City of Paris at leading hotels, railway stations, and public resorts in England and Scotland.

Readers also liked: New England Motor Freight

The SS City of Paris was a remarkable ship that set a new record for crossing the Atlantic in 1889. It took just 5 days, 19 hours, and 18 minutes to complete the 2,788-mile journey from Queenstown to New York.

Captain Watkins, the ship's captain, was confident in the City of Paris's abilities and believed it hadn't yet reached its full potential.

The City of Paris was operated by the Inman Line, a shipping company that played a significant role in the transatlantic trade during the late 19th century.

The ship's previous record was broken by a margin of 3 hours and 49 minutes, demonstrating its impressive speed and efficiency.

The City of Paris arrived in New York on August 28th, 1889, in excellent condition, having completed its extraordinary run from Queenstown.

You might like: New York Water Taxi

The Inman Line was founded in 1850 by William Inman and his American quaker associates. They were young and ambitious, with Inman being just 25 years old at the time.

Their first ship, the City of Glasgow, set sail on December 17, 1850, marking the beginning of the company's journey. The City of Manchester followed the next year, and the Inman Line invested in steel ships propelled by turbines, which were a game-changer for transatlantic travel.

These ships were more efficient, required less maintenance, and were safer than their predecessors. The company specialized in transporting European emigrants, particularly Irish immigrants, due to the quaker background of its founders.

On a similar theme: Ships of Carnival Cruise Line

In 1896, the year of the first modern Olympic Games, the world was a vastly different place. The games were held in Athens, Greece, and were a revival of the ancient Olympic Games that dated back to 776 BC.

The first modern Olympics featured 241 athletes from 14 countries, competing in 9 sports. It was a groundbreaking moment in the history of sports.

The games were a huge success, and they paved the way for the international sporting events we know and love today.

The Inman Line was founded in 1850 by William Inman and his American Quaker associates, who knew firsthand the struggles of European emigrants, particularly the Irish.

The company's first ship, the City of Glasgow, made its maiden voyage on December 17, 1850.

Inman Line invested in steel ships propelled by turbines, which revolutionized transatlantic travel by requiring less maintenance, being safer, and consuming less fuel.

The company specialized in transporting Irish emigrants, as the founders were Irish Quakers who understood the harsh conditions faced by their fellow countrymen.

Queenstown in Ireland became one of the company's main stops from 1859, offering a welcoming respite for weary travelers.

Inman Line provided meals to its passengers, a novelty at the time, which contributed to the 80% of its 500 annual passengers being emigrants headed to America.

However, the company's early years were marked by setbacks, including the loss of its first ship, the City of Glasgow, and its new ship, the City of Philadelphia, in 1854.

Intriguing read: British and Irish Steam Packet Company

The Inman Line was facing a tough time after the death of its founder, William Inman, before the company's maiden voyage. The City of Brussels sank in the Mersey in 1883, which led to the company's decision to go into liquidation.

The Inman Line was rachetée by the International Navigation Company, an American conglomerate based in Philadelphia. This change in ownership brought in new capital, which enabled the construction of two massive ships, the City of Paris II and the City of New York III.

These two ships were the largest and fastest in the world, and they became the pride of the Inman Line's history. The City of Paris II won the Ruban bleu twice, in 1889 and 1892, and the City of New York III set a record for the fastest west-east crossing in 1893.

However, the Inman Line's new American ownership led to a change in its relationship with the British government. The British government revoked the company's contract for carrying the mail, which forced the Inman Line to turn to the American government for help.

The American government, after some lobbying, agreed to renew the contract and allow the Inman Line to transfer its ships to the American flag, but only if the company built two new ships in American shipyards. This marked the end of the Inman Line as a British company.

A unique perspective: American Roll-on Roll-off Carrier