James Thomson and Co
1797 Formation of James Thomson and Co as a shipbroking company in 1797. The firm went on to be shipowners, mainly operating sailing ships to Australia.
The company was operating a small fleet of sailing ships by the early 19th century, and by the middle of the century they were sailing on routes all over the world.
1817 Advert for the ship Layton with Commander Thomas Taylor to Madras and Bengal. Apply to James Thomson of 6 Billiter Court. [1]
1828 James Anderson joined James Thomson and Co.
1844 James Thomson and Co were advertising ships to Ascencion [2]
1854 James's nephew James George Anderson joined the firm
1862 James Thomson and Co advertised the Orient Line of Packets to Adelaide, listing five ships[3]
By 1863 the company had been restyled Anderson, Thompson and Co of Biliter Court. [4] with James Anderson and his nephew James G K Anderson as partners.
1866 The inauguration of a liner service to Australia with the packet Orient saw the company trade as The Orient Line of Packets, regularly shortened to Orient Line.
1870 January. The company name reverted to James Thomson and Co (with Thomson and F. G. Westmoreland) as the Andersons set up business as Anderson, Anderson and Co [5]
1875 Advertising as James Thomson and Co of Billiter Square as owners of the 'Ponda Chief' clipper used by the Blue Cross Line direct to Port Natal. [6]
1882 James Thomson and Co, shipowners and merchants of Billiter Street were bankrupts [7]