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Single Person record details
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Back
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Person Code
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NA18819
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Corporate Name
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Anchor Line Ltd
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Dates
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1856-1935
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Epithet
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shipping company
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Activity
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Nicol and Robert Baird Handyside formed the company of N & R Handyside, shipbrokers and merchants, in 1838 and began trading with the Russian and Baltic ports. They were joined in 1852 by Thomas Henderson and together established the separate partnership of Handysides & Co (leaving the original firm under the directorship of Nicol Handyside). They were involved in trade with Australia, Bombay and South America, and in 1854 purchased their first two ships. The Glasgow & Lisbon Steam Packet Co was formed in 1854, with Robert Baird Handyside as one of the owners, and Handysides & Co were appointed as managers, although both companies were run independently. In 1855 Handysides & Co purchased another three clipper ships and the company name changed to Handysides & Henderson. In 1856 the title 'The Anchor Line' was used for the first time in connection with steam packet sailings between Glasgow and New York. As a result of the demand for troopships by the Indian Government following the India Mutiny in 1857, the Atlantic service from Glasgow was abandoned and not resumed until 1859. In the interim business concentrated on the four Glasgow & Lisbon Steam Packet ships, while the three Handysides & Henderson sailing ships traded to South America. In 1859, on the retirement of Nicol Handyside, John Henderson became a partner and the Atlantic service resumed. In 1860 David and William Henderson, the brothers of Thomas, were established as ship repairers in Glasgow and undertook work for the company. Additional offices were opened in Londonderry, New York (both 1868), Liverpool and Dundee (1869). In 1869 the company began trading between Leith, Christiansand, Christiania and Gothenburg, with passengers going by train to connect with their New York sailings. Further offices were opened in Granton, Christiania and Christiansand, but this service ended in 1872.In 1872 Thomas and Andrew Henderson became major shareholders in the Barrow Steam Ship Co, whose ships were then employed in the Anchor Atlantic and Indian services. In 1873 Robert Baird Handyside retired and the firm of Handysides & Henderson became Henderson Brothers. The shipyard of Tod & MacGregor, Partick, was bought by the Anchor Line and D & W Henderson & Co and between 1876 and 1911 32 ships were built for the Anchor Line, plus four or five elsewhere. Between 1892 and 1895 the four Henderson brothers died, leaving the business to be carried on by their families. Henderson Brothers was dissolved in 1899 and Anchor Line (Henderson Brothers) Ltd formed. The Finnieston Engineering Works and the Meadowside Shipyard were taken over by D & W Henderson & Co Ltd. In 1911 the Cunard Steamship Co acquired a large interest in Anchor Line (Henderson Brothers) Ltd, but the two companies retained their separate services and identities.By the end of the First World War the fleet was reduced to ten ships. The company embarked on a programme of building and improvement, and traded successfully until the Depression. By April 1935, however, losses were such that Anchor Line (Henderson Brothers) Ltd was forced into liquidation. The assets were transferred into a new company to be known as Anchor Line (1935) Ltd, which was to be managed by Runciman (London) Ltd and the connections with Cunard were severed. The name of the company was changed again in 1936 to Anchor Line Ltd. During the Second World War the Anchor Line again suffered heavy losses and in 1945 only five Anchor liners and one cargo ship were left. In 1949 there was another change in ownership of the company when the United Molasses Co Ltd gained a controlling interest. By 1953 they were sole owners.Anchor Line Ltd was incorporated in 1966 and changed its name to Gibson Gas Tankers Ltd (still trading) in 1992.
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NonPreferredTerm
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Anchor Line Ltd
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Notes
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See R S McLellan, 'Anchor Line 1856-1956' (Glasgow, 1956).
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Subordinate
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Glasgow
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Associated records
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