U.S. Mail Steamship Company
Encyclopedia
U.S. Mail Steamship Company was a company formed in 1848 by George Law
, Marshall O. Roberts and Bowes R. McIlvaine to assume the contract to carry the U. S. mails from New York
, with stops in New Orleans and Havana
, to the Isthmus of Panama
for delivery in California. The company had the SS Ohio and the SS Georgia built in 1848, and with the purchased SS Falcon in early 1849 carried the first passengers by steamship to Chagres
, on the east coast of the Isthmus of Panama
. Soon the rapid transit time the steamship lines and the trans isthumus passage made possible when the California Gold Rush
began made it a very profitable company.
When in 1850 the Pacific Mail Steamship Company
established a competing line to the U.S. Mail Steamship Company between New York
and Chagres
, George Law placed an opposition Pacific Line of steamers (SS Antelope, SS Columbus, SS Isthumus, SS Republic) in the Pacific running from Panama
to San Francisco. In April, 1851, the rivalry was ended when an agreement was made between the companies, the U.S. Mail Steamship Company purchased the Pacific Mail steamers on the Atlantic side (SS Crescent City, SS Empire City, SS Philadelphia), and George Law sold his ships and new line to the Pacific Mail. Law went into partnership with William Henry Aspinwall
to develop the Panama Railroad in 1852.
In 1852 George Law had a dispute with the Cuban Captain-general, the Spanish
official was incensed because the purser of one of Law's vessels had published an offensive statement in a New York newspaper, and he refused entrance to any vessel having the purser on board. The American government refused to sustain Mr. Law in his determination to send the Crescent City to Havana with the purser on board, and withdrew the mail when he persisted. He nevertheless despatched the steamship, and the Captain-general failed to carry out his threat to fire on her.
The U.S. Mail Steamship Company only operated for 11 years. On the expiration of the mail contract in 1859 the company withdrew from the business. Its directors were said to be more interested in immediate financial returns than in providing a good service, so there was little public regret at its passing.
George Law (financier)
George Law an American financier, b. in Jackson, Washington Co., N.Y., 25 October 1806; d. in New York city, 18 November 1881.- Early life :George Law was born in Jackson, New York and his only early education had been obtained in a winter night school. At age of eighteen he left his father's farm...
, Marshall O. Roberts and Bowes R. McIlvaine to assume the contract to carry the U. S. mails from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, with stops in New Orleans and Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
, to the Isthmus of Panama
Isthmus of Panama
The Isthmus of Panama, also historically known as the Isthmus of Darien, is the narrow strip of land that lies between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, linking North and South America. It contains the country of Panama and the Panama Canal...
for delivery in California. The company had the SS Ohio and the SS Georgia built in 1848, and with the purchased SS Falcon in early 1849 carried the first passengers by steamship to Chagres
Chagres
Chagres, a village of the Republic of Panama in the Colón Province. It has a harbour from 10 to I ~ ft. deep, which is difficult to enter. The port was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1502, and was opened for traffic with Panama, on the Pacific coast, by way of the Chagres River, in the 16th...
, on the east coast of the Isthmus of Panama
Isthmus of Panama
The Isthmus of Panama, also historically known as the Isthmus of Darien, is the narrow strip of land that lies between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, linking North and South America. It contains the country of Panama and the Panama Canal...
. Soon the rapid transit time the steamship lines and the trans isthumus passage made possible when the California Gold Rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
began made it a very profitable company.
When in 1850 the Pacific Mail Steamship Company
Pacific Mail Steamship Company
The Pacific Mail Steamship Company was founded April 18, 1848 as a joint stock company under the laws of the State of New York by a group of New York City merchants, William H. Aspinwall, Edwin Bartlett, Henry Chauncey, Mr. Alsop, G.G. Howland and S.S. Howland...
established a competing line to the U.S. Mail Steamship Company between New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and Chagres
Chagres
Chagres, a village of the Republic of Panama in the Colón Province. It has a harbour from 10 to I ~ ft. deep, which is difficult to enter. The port was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1502, and was opened for traffic with Panama, on the Pacific coast, by way of the Chagres River, in the 16th...
, George Law placed an opposition Pacific Line of steamers (SS Antelope, SS Columbus, SS Isthumus, SS Republic) in the Pacific running from Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
to San Francisco. In April, 1851, the rivalry was ended when an agreement was made between the companies, the U.S. Mail Steamship Company purchased the Pacific Mail steamers on the Atlantic side (SS Crescent City, SS Empire City, SS Philadelphia), and George Law sold his ships and new line to the Pacific Mail. Law went into partnership with William Henry Aspinwall
William Henry Aspinwall
William Henry Aspinwall was an American businessman.In 1832, he became president of the Howland & Aspinwall merchant firm, which had been founded by his cousin and expanded trade to South America, China, Europe, the Mediterranean, and the East and West Indies. Howland & Aspinwall owned some of the...
to develop the Panama Railroad in 1852.
In 1852 George Law had a dispute with the Cuban Captain-general, the Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
official was incensed because the purser of one of Law's vessels had published an offensive statement in a New York newspaper, and he refused entrance to any vessel having the purser on board. The American government refused to sustain Mr. Law in his determination to send the Crescent City to Havana with the purser on board, and withdrew the mail when he persisted. He nevertheless despatched the steamship, and the Captain-general failed to carry out his threat to fire on her.
The U.S. Mail Steamship Company only operated for 11 years. On the expiration of the mail contract in 1859 the company withdrew from the business. Its directors were said to be more interested in immediate financial returns than in providing a good service, so there was little public regret at its passing.
Ships of the U.S. Mail Steamship Company
- SS Falcon 1848-1852 Purchased by the company, she started New York to Chagres service on December 1, 1848 and continued until 1852.
- SS Ohio 1848-1854 Built for the company, it served from September 20, 1849 sailing from New York to CharlestonCharleston, South CarolinaCharleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, SavannahSavannahSavannah or savanna is a type of grassland.It can also mean:-People:* Savannah King, a Canadian freestyle swimmer* Savannah Outen, a singer who gained popularity on You Tube...
, Havana, New Orleans and Chagres until it was withdrawn from service in spring 1854. - SS Georgia 1848-1854 Built for the company, served on the New York to Chagres service from January 28, 1850 until February, 1854.
- SS Pacific 1850-1851 Built for the company, served on the New York to Chagres service from 1850 until March 19, 1851 when it sailed from New York for San Francisco and arrived 2 July. There she was purchased by Cornelius VanderbiltCornelius VanderbiltCornelius Vanderbilt , also known by the sobriquet Commodore, was an American entrepreneur who built his wealth in shipping and railroads. He was also the patriarch of the Vanderbilt family and one of the richest Americans in history...
for the San Francisco to Panama service. - SS Philadelphia 1851-1859 Purchased by the company, in January, 1851, she was lengthened and used on the New Orleans to Chagres run until 1860.
- SS Crescent City 1851-1856 Purchased from the Pacific Mail Steamship Company and continued regular New York to Chagres voyages until summer 1852. She made a single voyage on this service in 1853 and was wrecked on a reef in the Gulf of Mexico in 1856.
- SS Empire City 1851-1856 Purchased from the Pacific Mail Steamship Company and continued on the New York to Chagres service until 1856.
- SS Illinois 1851-1859 Built for the company, it served on the New York to Chagres service from August 26, 1851 until early 1859.
- SS George Law 1852-1857 Built for the company, it served on the New York to Aspinwall service from October 20, 1853. It was re-named the SS Central AmericaSS Central AmericaSS Central America, sometimes called the Ship of Gold, was a 280-foot sidewheel steamer that operated between Central America and the eastern coast of the United States during the 1850s. She was originally named the SS George Law, after Mr. George Law of New York...
in 1857. On the return run between Havana and New York, she sank at sea on September 12, 1857 in a hurricane with the loss of about 423 lives and eight million dollars in gold. - SS St. Louis 1855-1859 Sold to the company by the New York & Havre Steam Navigation Company in August 1855, she made occasional voyages brtween New York and Aspinwall from 1855 until 1859. Purchased by the Pacific Mail Steamship Company.
- SS North Star 1854-1855 Formerly used as private yacht by Cornelius Vanderbilt and used on his New York to Aspinwall service she performed same service for the U.S. Mail company from September 1854 until January 1855 when it was returned to Vanderbilt.
- SS Cherokee 1855 Purchased by the company.
- SS Northern Light 1857 Belonged to Vanderbilt, but in September 1857 she went onto the New York to Aspinwall service for the U.S. Mail Steamship Company until December, 1857 when she went back to Vanderbilt's service.
- SS Granada 1857-1859 Served the company from 1857 on the New York to Aspinwall service until spring 1859.
- SS Moses Taylor 1858-1859 Built for the company, she served on the New York to Aspinwall service from January 5, 1858 until September 1859.
- SS Star of the WestStar of the WestThe Star of the West was a civilian steamship hired by the United States government to transport military supplies and reinforcements to the garrison of Fort Sumter, but was fired on by Confederates in its effort to do so at the dawning of the American Civil War...
1857-1859 A Vanderbilt ship, she started the New York to Aspinwall service for the company from June, 1857 until September, 1859.
Sources
- Appleton's Cyclopedia of American Biography, Vol. III., (1892) p. 636, out of copyright.
- United States. Dept. of State, Case of the Black Warrior: and other violations of the rights of American citizens by Spanish authorities, B. Tucker, Senate printer, 1854
- TheShipsList website: United States Mail Line of 1848-1859
- TheShipsList website: Steamships on the Panama Route - Both Atlantic and Pacific
- The White-Collar Route to El Dorado, The Era of the Clipper Ships website
- The Panama Railroad, The Era of the Clipper Ships website
- The Panama Route 1848-1851; The Postal Gazzete, November 2006