CLAN LINE.

CAYZER, IRVINE & COMPANY LIMITED.

TURNBULL MARTIN & CO. LTD. SCOTTISH SHIRE LINE.

R.P. HOUSTON LINE.

SCOTTISH TANKERS LTD.

Clan Line

Captain John Bax
Source: "Gathering of the Clans" by N.L. Middlemiss
Merchant Fleets by Duncan Haws
Research: Terry Robins




Charles Cayzer was born on July 15th, 1843 at Hackney; London to Charles William and Mary Cayzer. His Father originally came from Heathersleigh, in the County of Devonshire. He became a teacher and took up a position at Poplar in London. Charles had two older sisters and five who were younger, four of these passed away from tuberculosis when they were a few months old. The other two sisters passed away later from the same disease. Charles grew up besides the River Thames with its busy waterfront and when he was 15 years old obtained employment as a Master’s clerk aboard a sailing vessel departing from the Thames in London and bound for Japan via Bombay. He liked Bombay and when 17 years old in 1861 he started work at the office of William Nicol & Co who shortly after became the Agents in Bombay of William Mackinnon’s new British India Company. He soon became familiar with the office and general procedures of British India and the Indian Trade, which, in later years was to be of great benefit to him.. He met Agnes Elizabeth Trickey who was from Clifton, Bristol whilst in Bombay and they were married in May of 1868. In April, 1873 he sailed home to England to join his wife and children, and while on an extended leave of 9 months the concept of a Steamship Company with a direct link between Bombay and the two big western seaports of Britain, Liverpool and Glasgow via the Suez Canal which had opened in 1869, began to take shape. He returned to India and resigned from British India arriving back in Cardiff where his family had settled, on October 7th, 1874.

The first steamer to reach Bombay and Calcutta had been the ENTERPRISE of 470 tons and 120 horsepower as long ago as 1825, taking 103 days steaming and 10 days refuelling time. Since then improvements in size, speed, power, reliability and bunkering arrangements aided by a revision of the Tonnage Laws in 1854,which had previously discriminated against the operation of steamships and allowed steamers to give shippers a set timetable for the arrival of goods. On the long trade routes to India and the Far East the sailing ship remained the main source of sea transportation until the 1870s when the competition between sail and steam propelled vessels became very intense. Charles first worked for The British India agency of Gray, Dawes & Co in London before becoming a partner in Rudstad & Cayzer in 1877 of Liverpool and then setting up a business of his own in Liverpool with a staff of one and buying the control of a wooden barque, the 27 year old JALAWAR of 635 tons, which he traded to Bombay, making extremely good profits. He then bought the fully rigged NORTH STAR of 818 tons, which was also successful and his family moved to Walton Park, Liverpool.

An approach was then made in early 1878 to Alexander Stephen at Linthouse his Glasgow shipyard for assistance in starting a new shipping line. Stephen's was agreeable to investing in the proposed new company as his shipyard was extremely short of work, and orders for two iron screw steamers of dimensions 286.0 x 34.6 x 24.0 feet were signed on February 25th, 1878 at the low price of £34,000 each, payments being cash for one third of the cost of each vessel while being built, with Alexander Stephen financing the other two thirds by Bills of Exchange which were redeemed within three years. John Muir, later Sir John Muir, Provost of Glasgow, of James Finlay & Company was also associated with the venture, at the age of 35 and was able to set up a partnership with Captain Alexander Irvine, who was a former British India Master and a long standing friend whom he had first met in Bombay some years before. Irvine was to look after the office in Liverpool and the new company of Cayzer, Irvine & Co. which began to trade at 3. Old Church Yard, Liverpool in the first week of March, 1878. Charles then drafted a long circular to the public and his friends who might be interested in his new company, for which he had to raise £ 22,000, on the usual 64th shares per ship basis at £560 each, in six weeks he had the money and appointed agents in Glasgow (Turnbull & Martin), Liverpool and Manchester (Gellatly, Hankey & Sewell), London (J & R Grant), Cardiff (Tellefsen, Wills,) Colombo (Aitken, Spence & Co), Madras (Gordon, Woodroffe & Co.), Cape Town (James Searight & Co.) and Bombay (Finley, Muir), Freights were not the responsibility of the master as per the usual practice, but of the appointed agents, leaving the masters of the vessels with the supervisory tasks of accepting and checking cargoes on board their vessels.

Clan Alpine was launched in September 1878 and her first trial trip was a festive occasion with 100 guests and press aboard on Tuesday 15th October 1878. An average speed of 11 knots was obtained on 6 runs over the measured mile.


(1)



1878 - 1899.

Official Number 78650. Tonnage 818.Grt.
305.6 X 34.8 X 24.2 ft.

16.9.1878 Launched by A. Stephen and Sons. Glasgow. (Yard No 226.) for Cayzer, Irvine and Co. Sold to Dene Shipping Company Co Ltd (J.T. Lund and Co. Managers) , Newcastle and renamed ELMDENE. 1903 Sold to Saporta & Naar (P. Tassi Manager), Italy and renamed IDA. Sold to M. VASSILIAKIS, Greece in 1909 and renamed SIMOPOULOS. 1909, sold again to J.J. King and broken up at Gateshead.

She then loaded a cargo of iron railway chairs at Glasgow and sailed to Liverpool to complete her loading. At 11pm. On October 26th, 1878 she sailed for Bombay under the command of Captain George Cawley R.N.R., the masters of all early ships being officers in the Royal Navy Reserve. Clan Fraser, the second ship, sailed from Liverpool November 23rd, 1878, by which time two more steamers from the yards of Alexander Stephen and two from Archibald McMillan of Dumbarton had been signed, completing the six vessels that were thought necessary to service the route to Bombay.


(1)


1878 - 1895.

Official Number 80420.     Grt 2083     Nrt1349.
305.6 X 34.8 X 24.2 feet

7.11.1878 Launched by A. Stephen and Sons. Glasgow (Yard No 227) for Cayzer, Irvine and Co. 1895. Sold to Dene Steam Shipping Co Ltd. (J.T. Lunn and Co. Managers), Newcastle and renamed Oakdene. In 1896 she was sold to A. Tagliavia & Fratelli, Italy and renamed GIACOMO.

Renamed PRIMAVERA 28.10.1902 and wrecked on the Burlings, Portugal, while on a voyage from Palermo to Antwerp and Rotterdam with General Cargo.

The ships were of 2,900 deadweight tons and were powered with surface condensing, compound engines of 280 hp designed to give an average speed under loaded conditions of about 10 knots. The boilers were large for the time and had a working pressure of 80 pounds per square inch. They had two masts and were brig - rigged with an impressive array of canvas. The accommodation for 36 passengers was in a deckhouse fitted with every requisite to ensure their comfort in tropical as well as cold regions, with staterooms on the upper deck. They carried a surgeon and a stewardess and the first class passage to Bombay cost 25 Guineas. Large 2 berth cabins were reserved for married couples, or for one fare-paying passenger paying fare and a half. Reduced rates were granted for families, missionaries, railway employees and European and native servants. Children over 12 years of age paid full fare, between 3 and 12 years of age, half fare and a child under 3 years of age travelled free if accompanied by parents. Passage included bedding, linen and cabin furniture. Wines and spirits were to be taken on board for own consumption by passengers. Every passenger was allowed 40 cubic feet of baggage free, servants and children receiving half that allowance. Officers and crew were also berthed on deck and those engaged by Charles proved to be honest and loyal, and the shore administration being very efficient, the company soon began to make a profit.

An analysis of expenses incurred on an early voyage would be as follows.

Wages £      817
Provisions £      565
Fuel £    1110
Marine and Engineers Stores £      750
Stevedores and Port Charges, Liverpool and Bombay £    1045
Canal Dues £    1700
Insurance £      768
Advertising, agents commission £      465
Management &office expenses £      232
Miscellaneous £       30
Total £   7482


The Canal dues were thus half as much again as the fuel, or twice the wages of the crew. As managing owners, Cayzer, Irvine & Co took a management charge of 2.5% of gross earnings as well as profits (or losses) as shareholders. Unlike most other managing owners, Charles also charged a commission of 5% of the net profits, thereby giving an incentive to everyone to cut down costs and enable the net result to be a profit instead of a loss. His family, which now comprised of six sons and three daughters now moved to Glasgow. 1878 did not start well for the company, a harsh blow being dealt on January 27th with the death of his new partner, Alexandra Irvine at the age of 44 as the result of a heart attack. After the association of less than one year, Irvine was no longer to be involved with the Clan Line; however Charles carried out his responsibilities to the widow and 3 children. He never altered the company name, even though he took another Liverpool partner. R.A. Cruikshank, who stayed with him for the next 7 years.

PERIOD OF GROWTH.

In 1881 regular services were commenced to Colombo, Madras, and Calcutta. Trade in South Africa commenced with the sailing ship CLAN LAMONT in September of 1881, reaching Cape Town on 8th October 1881, with crowds gathering to meet her.


(1)


1879 - 1891

Official Number 80458      Grt 2091      Nrt 1354

305.6 X 34.8 X 24.2 feet

23.4.1879 Launched by S Stephen and Sons, Glasgow. Yard No 233 for Cayzer, Irvine and Co.Glasgow3.5.1891 wrecked off Vindiloas Point Batticaloa, Ceylon, while on a voyage from Madras to London with general cargo.

CLAN LAMONT 1 was followed by CLAN GORDON (1) CLAN FRASER (1) CLAN MACLEOD (1) CLAN RANALD (1) CLAN STUART (1) CLAN MACKAY (1) and CLAN CAMERON (1) which reached Cape Town by May in 1882. Trade was gradually expanded to include Delagoa Bay (Lourenco Marques), Beira and Mauritius.

The Clan Line Association came into being in 1881 and was an association with several rich, influential Scottish merchants, and credits were obtained with banks for £720,000 and Alexander Stephen was promised cash and not the redemption of long-term bills for future ships. Three iron barques were purchased from G. Smith & Sons, Glasgow at a total price of £7, 5750 and renamed CLAN MACLEOD (1) CLAN MACDUFF (1) and CLAN MACLEAN (1) also a vessel named MURIEL, which was being built on the Tyne, was purchased for £ 35,750 and renamed CLAN MURRAY (1)


(1)



1879 - 1897

Official Number 80441      Grt 2062     Nrt 1343

305.6 X 34.8 X 24.2 feet

11.2.1879 Launched by A Stephen and Sons, Glasgow (Yard No 232) for Cyzer, Irvine and Co. 16.10.1897 wrecked at Umlalazi River. Zululand, while on a voyage from The River Clyde to Natal, Delagoa Bay and Beira with general cargo.


Publicity


(1)
1881 1884

Official Number 63821     Grt 2290     Nrt 1461

325.7 X 36.2 X 27.4 feet

22.3.1871 Launched by C. Connell and Co., Glasgow (Yard No 75.) as City Of Mecca for G. Smith and Sons, Glasgow. 1881 purchased by Cayzer, Irvine and Co and renamed CLAN MACLEOD. 1884 sold to R.M. Sloman & Co., Germany and renamed PROCIDA. 20.12 1900 sold to The Admiralty, London for service as a coal hulk at Simonstown. 1901 renamed NUBIAN. 1904 renamed C.370. 1913 sold to T.W. Ward Ltd. And broken up at Morecambe.


(1)



1878 - 1899

Official Number 80439     Grt 2068     Nrt 1339

305.0 X 34.8 X 24.4 feet

24.12.1878 Launched by A. McMillan and Son, Dumbarton (Yard No 215) for Cyzer, Irvine and Co. 1899 sold to Ranald Steamship Co (T.P. Purdy manager), Glasgow and renamed RANALD. 4.6.1901 foundered off Atlantic City while on a voyage from Trinidad to New York with general cargo.


(1)



1879 - 1900

Official Number 80447      Grt 2094      Nrt 1355

305.4 X 34.8 X 24.4 feet

21.2.1879 launched by A. McMillan and Sons, Dumbarton (Yard No 216) for Cayzer, Irwin and Co. Went aground at Moville Point 16.2.1885 while entering Table Bay, South Africa.1900 Sold to Hajee Goolam Mahomed Ajam, Bombay and renamed RANDER REUNION. 1906 Sold to Shah Steam navigation Co. of India Ltd; Bombay, and renamed SHAH JADA. 1906 Vessel was broken up at Bombay.




(1)
1882 - 1891

Official No 85906     Grt 2171     Nrt 1423

285.7 X 37.2 X 24.4 feet

19.1.1882 Launched by Bartram, Haswell and Co Ltd; Sunderland. (Yard No 117) for Cayzer, Irvine and Co. 1891. Wrecked on Bellicatua Rock, near Galle, Ceylon, while on a voyage from Madras to London.


(1)
1881

Official No 63796.      Grt 2328      Nrt 1497

326.1 X 36.1 X 27.7 feet.

12.10.1870 Launched by Barclay, Curle and Co., Glasgow (Yard No 206) as CITY OF OXFORD for G. Smith and Sons, Glasgow. 1881 purchased by Cayzer, Irvine and Co and renamed CLAN MACDUFF. 21.10.1881 Foundered 40 miles South of Cork while on a voyage from Liverpool to Bombay, 32 lives lost including the Master.


(1)
1881 - 1903

Official No 63807.     Grt 2336      Nrt 1486

326.5 X 36.1 X 27.7 feet.

10.12.1870 Launched by Barclay, Curle and Co., Glasgow (Yard No 207) as CITY OF CAMBRIDGE for G. Smith and Sons, Glasgow. 1881 purchased by Cayzer, Irvine and Co and renamed CLAN MACLEAN. 28.3.1890 struck Matamada Rock near Galle Harbour, Ceylon. 1903 wrecked 6 miles North of Cape St. Vincent while on a voyage from Glasgow and Liverpool to Bombay with general cargo.


(1)
1882 - 1897

Official No. 82745.      Grt 2108     Nrt 1373

290.0 X 36.2 X 23.2 feet

15.6.1881 Launched by Tyne Iron Shipbuilding Co., Howdon on Tyne (Yard No 33) as MURIEL for W.B. Ritchie and Co., Dundee. 1882 purchased by Cyzer, Irvine and Co and renamed CLAN MURRAY. 1897 Sold to Dene Steam Shipping Co. Ltd. (J.T. Lunn and Co., Managers) and renamed OLIVEDENE. 1899 sold to Lim Chin Tsong, Rangoon and renamed SEANG LEONG. 25.7.1902 sailed from Singapore on a voyage to Amoy, China, with general cargo and disappeared.

At the end of 1881, a substantial building programme of 17 new ships was started with CLAN MONROE (1) and CLAN MACKAY (1), both just under 2200 gross tons and built by Bartram, Haswell & Co Ltd., Sunderland. All these steamers had two decks and can be divided into three classes: -

1. CLAN BUCHANAN, (1) CLAN DRUMMAND, (1) CLAN GRAHAM, (1) CLAN MACGREGOR, (1) and CLAN SINCLAIR (1) all about 2950 gross tons and were built two each by A. McMillan of Dumbarton; Napier Shanks & Bell of Glasgow; Ramage and Ferguson of Leith.

2. CLAN CAMERON, (1) CLAN FORBES, (1) CLAN OGILVIE, (1) and CLAN CAMPBELL (1) all just over 2400 gross tons and were built by Alexander Stephens of Glasgow and were the first Clan Line Steamers to carry passengers.

3. CLAN MATHESON, (1) CLAN MACPHERSON, (1) CLAN MACARTHUR (1) and CLAN MACINTOSH, (1) the first pair from Napier, Sharks and Bell of Glasgow and the second pair from Scott & Co. of Greenock. These classes were much bigger at around 4000 tons gross and were the first vessels to be built of steel for the company.

In addition, CLAN MACDONALD (1) of 2642 gross tons was built by Scott & Co of Greenock, which did not fall into the class categories.

Another loss was CLAN CAMBELL (1) on her maiden voyage in September 1882 when she ran aground at Mauritius and after many attempts to salvage her she broke up. By the end of 1883 the fleet had grown to 26 steamers. In this year CLAN LAMONT (1) was chartered for several pilgrim trade voyages (The Haj ) between India and Jeddah.


(1)
1881-1897

Official No. 85879.     Grt 2197      Nrt 1437

285.5 X 37.2 X 24.4 feet.

8.11.1881. Launched by Bertram, Haswell and Co.Ltd, Sunderland (Yard No 116) for Cayzer, Irvine and Co. 1887 sold to Dene Steam Shipping Co Ltd. (J.T. Lunn and Co., managers), Newcastle, and renamed CEDERDENE. 1899 sold to Westcott and Laurance, London. 1901 sold to Cedardene Steamship Co.Ltd, (Westcott and Laurance, managers), London. 24.2.1903 wrecked North of Arzile, Morocco, whilst on passage, River Clyde to Alexandria.


(1)
1882 - 1891

Official No. 85906.     Grt 2171     Nrt 1423

285.7 X 37.2 X 24.4 feet.

19.1.1882 Launched by Bartram, Haswell and Co.Ltd. Sunderland (Yard No 117) for Cayzer, Irvine and Co. 9.3.1891 wrecked on Bellicatua Rock, near Galle, Ceylon, while on a voyage from Madras to London.


(1)



1882 - 1904

Official No. 85927.      Grt 2933     Nrt 1913

330.3 X 40.1 X 26.3 feet.

22.2.1882 Launched by A. McMillan and Sons, Dumbarton (Yard N0 237) for Cayzer, Irvine and Co. 1904 sold to Essajee Tajbhoy, Bombay, and renamed SHAH ALLUM. 1907 sold to Shah Steam Navigation Co. of India Ltd., Bombay. 1908 sold to Hajee Ahmad Hassum, Bombay. 10.6.1909 wrecked at Piram Island, near Gogha while on a voyage from Rangoon to Bhavnager, West India.



1882 - 1898

Official No. 86669.      Grt 2922     Nrt 1904

330.3 X 40.1 X 26.3 feet

5. 1882 Launched by A. McMillan and Son, Dumbarton. (Yard No 238) for Cayzer.Irvine and Co. 10.1.1891. In collision with steamer ANDORRA and barque SIR ROBERT FERNIE in River Hooghly. 28.1.1898 foundered in The Bay of Biscay while on a voyage from River Clyde and Liverpool to Algoa with general cargo. The Master and 36 crew were lost.


1882 - 1905

Official No. 85943.      Grt 2926     Nrt 1911

330.5 X 40.2 X 26.3 feet.

21.3.1882 Launched by Napier, Shanks and Bell, Glasgow (Yard No 14) for Cayzer, Irvine and Co. 1905 Sold to Bombay and Persia Steam Navigation Co Ltd., Bombay and renamed MAJIDI. 1912 sold to Comm. Tomaso Astarita, Italy and renamed MARIA VITTORIA. 1913 renamed MARIA DELLE VITTORIE. 4.6.1915 last reported arrival at Naples from Norfolk, Virginia via Gibraltar, laid up at Naples. 1916 Scrapped at Naples.


(1)
1882 - 1899

Official No. 86692.      Grt 2956     Nrt 1927

329.6 X 40.3 X 26.4 feet.

29.7.1882 Launched by Ramage and Ferguson, Leith (Yard No 36) for Cayzer, Irvine and Co. 4.9.1899 Sank off Cape St Vincent following a collision with the Danish steamer CATHAY, 4/11/98 while on a voyage from Madras to London.


(1)
1882 - 1905

Official No. 86705.     Grt 2933     Nrt 1912

330.5 X 40.2 X 26.3 feet

15.8.82 Launched by Napier, Shanks and Bell, Glasgow (Yard No 15) for Cayzer, Irvine and Co. 1905 sold to Bombay and Persia Steam Navigation Co, Ltd., Bombay, and renamed RAHMANI. 20.7.1917 sank following a collision in the Mediterranean Sea while on a voyage from Bombay to Genoa.


(1)
1882 - 1900

Official No.85913      Grt 2433      Nrt1585

324.5 X 38.1 X 23.8 feet.

22.2.1882 Launched by A. Stephen and Sons, Glasgow (Yard No 261) for Cayzer, Irvine and Co. 1900 Sold to Trinidad Shipping and Trading Co. Ltd. (G. Christall. manager), Glasgow and renamed MARAVAL. 1910 sold to ship breakers.


(1)
1882 - 1903.

Official No. 86680.      Grt 2441      Nrt 1591

324.5 X 38.1 X 23.8 feet.

15.8.1882 Launched by A. Stephen and Sons, Glasgow (Yard No 263) for Cayzer, Irvine and Co. 1903 sold to Furness Withy and Co Ltd., West Hartlepool, and renamed LONDON CITY. 1910 sold to Denaby and Cadeby Main Collieries Ltd., London. 1920 transferred to Denaby Shipping and Commercial Co. Ltd., London. 1922 sold to German ship breakers.




1882 - 1888

Official No. 86718.     Grt 2425     Nrt 1584

324.5 X 38.1 X 23.8 feet.

24.11.1882 Launched by A. Stephen and Sons, Glasgow (Yard No 264) for Cayzer, Irvine and Co. 27.1.1883 in collision with steamer INFLEXIBLE in Bombay Harbour. 8.1.1888 wrecked in the Straits of Bonifacio, Corsica while on a voyage from Bombay to Marseilles


(1)
1882

Official No. 86663.     Grt 2434      Nrt 1585

324.5 X 38.1 X 23.8 feet.

5.6.1882 Launched by A.Stephen and Sons, Glasgow (Yard No 262) for Cayzer, Irvine and Co. 22.9.1882 wrecked at Bail du Cap, Mauritius, while on her maiden voyage. Salvage attempts had been delayed by quarantine restrictions.


(1)
1882 - 1897.

Official No. 85914.      Grt 2642      Nrt 1716

335.5 X 39.3 X 26.9 feet.

21.2.1882 Launched by Scott and Co., Greenock (Yard No 207) for Cayzer, Irvine and Co.1897 sold to Dene Steam Shipping Co. Ltd. (J.T. Lunn and Co., managers), Newcastle and renamed BRIARDENE. 1898 sold to Briaardene Steam Ship Co. Ltd (Anglo -American Agency Co. Lt., managers), Newcastle. 1900 sold to Martin and Alfred Dickie, Truro. Nova Scotia. 1904 transferred to Colchester Steamship Co. Ltd., (A.Dickie manager), Lower Stewiacke, Nova Scotia. 1916 sold to Overseas Shipping Co.Ltd. Halifax, Nova Scotia. 1.12.1916 captured by the German Submarine UC 19 and sunk by bombs 12 ½ miles S.E by S from Bishops Rock while on a voyage from New York to London with general cargo.


(1)


1883 - 1905.

Official No. 87725.     Grt 3917     Nrt 2581

380.7 X 43.2 X 28.3 feet.

20.8.1883 Launched by Napier, Shanks and Bell, Glasgow (Yard No 21) for Cayzer, Irvine and Co. 12.1893 ashore in the Suez Canal, refloated. 1905 sold to Max Jebsen, Germany and renamed MARIECHEN. 1905 sold Gustav Diederichsen, Germany. 1906 sold to Max Jebson, Germany. 24.1.1906 stranded at Chichagoff, Alaska, while on a voyage from San Francisco to Vladivostok, subsequently refloated and towed to Seattle where she was partly dismantled and sunk in the harbour.


(1)
1883 - 1905.

Official No. 87709.     Grt 3921      Nrt 2587

380.7 X 43.2 X 28.3 feet.

25.5.1883 Launched by Napier,Shanks and Bell, Glasgow for Cayzer,Irvine and Co. (Yard No 20.) 1905 sold to Max Jebson, Germany and renamed HANNA. 1905 sold to Kishimoto Kisen Kabushiki Kaisha, Japan, and renamed SHINKOKU MARU. 1914 sold to ship breakers.


(1)


1883 - 1904.

Official No. 87657.      Grt 3984     Nrt 2635

381.2 X 43.2 X 27.9 feet.

12.3.1883 Launched by Mrs. Arthur at Scott and Co., Greenock (Yard No 223) for Cayzer, Irvine and Co. 1904 sold to Essajee Tajbhoy, and renamed SHAH JEHAN. 1907 sold to Shah Steam Navigation Co, of India Ltd., Bombay. 1909 sold to Bombay and Hujaz Steam Navigation Co. of India. 1912 sold to ship breakers at Bombay.


(1)
1883 - 1905.

Official No. 87690.      Grt 3985      Nrt 2636

381.2 X 43.3 X 27.9 feet.

6.6.1883 Launched by Scott and Co., Glasgow (Yard No 224) for Cayzer, Irvine and Co. 29.11.1885 in collision with barque FIDELIO near the Royal Sovereign Light while on a voyage from London to Glasgow with general cargo. 1905 sold to Max Jebson, Germany, and renamed TOTTI. 1905 sold to Gustav Diederichsen, Germany. 1906 sold to Madras Steam navigation Co. Ltd., Rangoon, and renamed CLAN MACINTOSH. (Their only ship) 1914 sold to ship breakers.





Part Two