Royal Mail Steam Packet Company: A Legacy of Transatlantic Travel, Immigration, and Luxury Voyages

The Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, also known as La Compagnie Royal Mail Steam Packet, was a British shipping company with international roots. It was founded in London in 1839 by a Scot, James MacQueen. The company's motto was Per Mare Ubique (everywhere by sea).

The Royal Mail Steam Packet Company provided transatlantic passenger services to and from Hamburg, Cherbourg, Southampton, New York, and, on occasion, Quebec.

Since September 1839, the company's vessels have been a testament to innovative design. The 'A' and 'D' steamers of the R. M. S. P. have, in recent years, become synonymous with 'Luxury Afloat.'

In 1932, the company was liquidated, and the newly formed Royal Mail Lines took over its assets after financial trouble and scandal. Sadly, over the years, RML declined to be nothing more than the name of a service run by former rival Hamburg-Süd.

Explore the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company Archival Collection, featuring passenger lists, immigration documents, menus, brochures, and historical insights into transatlantic voyages. A vital resource for genealogists, historians, and maritime enthusiasts tracing ocean travel from 1839 to 1932.

Quick Links to RMSP Topics

1. Passenger Lists (Grouped by Ship in Alpha/Date Order)

(A) Araguaya (O1) Ohio (O2) Orbita (O3) Orca (O4) Orduña

2. Brochures & Promotional Materials (Organized by Date)

3. Passage Contracts & Immigration Documents

4. Menus

5. Steamship Line History

6. Other Articles

History of the RMSP

The Royal Mail Steam Packet Company is one of the most ubiquitous British steamship companies. Incorporated in 1839, the company received a payment of £240,000 a year for carrying mail to and from Great Britain, the West Indies, and North and South America.

The West India Mail Line was extended to Colombo in 1868, while the South American Mail Line was continued to Buenos Aires the following year. The company now runs steamers from New York to Jamaica and vice versa, and in 1905, it acquired a half-interest in the Australian mail services.

Two years later, it also acquired a half-share in the "Shire" Line, which extended its services to the Far East; and, still, more recently, Messrs. Forwood's Line was acquired, and vessels are now run to Gibraltar, Morocco, the Canary Islands, and Madeira. RMSP started offering pleasure cruises to Norway in 1909, and soon afterward, a regular service from New York to Bermuda, which was later extended to Antilla, Cuba, was commenced.

The company also has many small vessels employed in the West Indian coastal and inter-colonial services. Produce from the various islands is collected and taken to Barbados or Trinidad, where the mail steamers embark it.

In June 1910, this enterprising company purchased the Pacific Steam Navigation Company's fleet and interests, effectively circumnavigating the continent of South America.

The most famous vessels of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company are the mail steamers Asturias, Avon, Araguaya, Amazon, and Aragon. These vessels, which are all driven by twin screws, vary in size between 12,000 and 9,500 tons. Their accommodation for passengers is amongst the most luxurious afloat, and a specialty is the number of single-berth cabins provided.

Y. M. C A. Secretaries on Steamships 1913

The Young Men's Christian Association announces that the Royal Mail Steamship line has granted the association permission to place secretaries on board the company's Teasels to conduct schools for immigrants.

The association reports that 190,000 immigrants attended lectures in twenty-five European ports last year. Negotiations are being forwarded to place secretaries on the vessels of other steamship lines.

The Continent, 13 November 1913, p. 1581

Review and Summary of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company Archival Collection

Introduction: The Rise and Fall of One of Britain’s Most Storied Steamship Companies

The Royal Mail Steam Packet Company (RMSP), founded in 1839 by James MacQueen, was one of Britain’s most significant steamship companies, with a motto that reflected its global reach: Per Mare Ubique (Everywhere by Sea).

For nearly a century, RMSP provided transatlantic passenger services, linking Hamburg, Cherbourg, Southampton, and New York, while also expanding routes to the Caribbean, South America, and Australia. It became known for luxury travel, pioneering the concept of “Luxury Afloat” in the early 20th century.

However, financial troubles and a scandal in 1932 led to its liquidation, with the newly formed Royal Mail Lines Ltd. taking over its assets. Today, its archives serve as an essential record of immigration, commerce, and maritime history.

 

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Key Highlights from the Collection

1. Passenger Lists: Tracing Travelers Across the Atlantic

The collection includes detailed passenger lists, essential for genealogists tracking European immigration to the U.S. and for historians analyzing transatlantic travel trends.

Notable Entries:

• 1925-02-28 RMSP SS Araguaya Passenger List
  Cruise voyage from New York to Bermuda
  Commander: Captain E. Clarke, R.D., R.N.R.
• 1923-08-29 RMSP SS Ohio Passenger List
  Cabin passengers traveling from Hamburg to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
  Commander: Captain W. H. Lainson
• 1926-07-30 RMSP SS Orca Passenger List
  Student Tourist Class passengers from Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
  Commander: Captain H. A. Le Brecht

🔹 Why This Matters:

• Genealogists can trace ancestors who traveled to the U.S. and Canada via RMSP routes.
• Historians can study how travel changed before and after WWI.
• Cruise ship enthusiasts can explore the early years of cruise vacations.

 

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2. Brochures & Promotional Materials: Selling the Dream of Transatlantic Travel

These brochures offer insight into how RMSP marketed its services to elite travelers, immigrants, and tourists.

Notable Entries:

1921 RMSP New York Service Brochure (First & Second Class)

• Features rare photographs of luxury first and second-class accommodations.
• Published in French with English Translation, appealing to an international audience.

1923 RMSP Cabin Liners to Europe Brochure

• Highlights Orbita, Orca, and Orduña, three ships RMSP acquired in 1923 but sold by 1926.
• Offers stunning visual documentation of early 20th-century transatlantic liners.

🔹 Why This Matters:

• Social historians can study early 20th-century luxury travel marketing.
• Maritime researchers can examine how ship design evolved.

 

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3. Immigration & Passage Contracts: Preserving Personal Journeys

This collection includes prepaid passage contracts for immigrants traveling from Europe to North America.

Notable Entries:

1923-01-27 SS Reliance Prepaid Passage Certificate

• A rare document for a second-class ticket paid for by a relative.
• Records the journey of an 18-year-old German immigrant.

🔹 Why This Matters:

• Genealogists can reconstruct family migration stories.
• Historians can explore how prepaid passage influenced immigration.

 

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4. Menus & Onboard Dining: A Taste of Elegance at Sea

Dining aboard RMSP ships was an elegant affair, with lavish multi-course meals served in luxurious settings.

Notable Entry:

1926-08-08 SS Orca Farewell Dinner Menu & Music Program

• Featured dishes: Poached Halibut, Sirloin of Beef, Yorkshire Pudding, and Vanilla Blancmange.
• The music program reflects entertainment aboard RMSP voyages.

🔹 Why This Matters:

• Culinary historians can study ocean liner dining traditions.
• Cultural researchers can explore how food & entertainment shaped the passenger experience.

 

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5. The History of RMSP: A Shipping Empire Spanning Continents

The company’s expansion beyond the Atlantic made RMSP one of the most influential shipping companies in British history.

Key Historical Milestones:

• 1850s-1900s: RMSP expanded to South America, the Caribbean, and later Australia and the Far East.
• 1905: RMSP acquired half-interest in Australian mail services.
• 1909: The company introduced pleasure cruises to Norway.
• 1910: RMSP acquired the Pacific Steam Navigation Company, strengthening its dominance in South American trade.
• 1932: Scandal and financial troubles led to its liquidation, with Royal Mail Lines Ltd. taking over.

🔹 Why This Matters:

• Maritime historians can study how British shipping companies shaped global trade.
• Economic historians can analyze the financial collapse of RMSP in 1932.

 

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Final Thoughts: Why This Collection is Essential

The Royal Mail Steam Packet Company Archival Collection provides a crucial window into the golden age of ocean travel, immigration, and transatlantic commerce.

✅ Traces immigration journeys from Europe to North America.
✅ Preserves luxury travel brochures showcasing early 20th-century shipboard life.
✅ Documents historic ship routes that shaped global trade and migration.
✅ Offers insight into ocean liner cuisine and entertainment.

🔹 Who Should Explore This Collection?

• Genealogists tracing family migration records.
• Historians studying British maritime dominance.
• Cruise ship enthusiasts exploring early luxury travel.
• Culinary historians analyzing menus from classic ocean liners.

This extensive archive captures a vital chapter of ocean travel history, making it an invaluable resource for researchers worldwide.