Williams & Guion Black Star Line
Encyclopedia
The Black Star Line was the name used by American flagged sailing packets owned by the New York firm of Williams and Guion in the Irish immigrant trade from 1848 to 1866. The line ultimately owned 18 ships on the Liverpool-Queenstown-New York route. Black Star shut down in 1863 because of the success of iron-screw liners in attracting steerage passengers and the danger of Confederate commerce raiders during the Civil War.
and Stephen Baker Guion (1820–1885). Guion relocated to Liverpool in 1852 as the firm's agent while Williams remained in New York. In 1853 Guion's older brother, William Howe Guion
joined the New York City
office. After the sailing packets were withdrawn, the firm supplied steerage passengers to the Cunard Line
and the National Line under contract.
In 1866, Stephen Guion, by now a naturalized British citizen, established the Guion Line
of British flagged steamhips. The Williams and Guion partners owned 52% of the steamship line's capital and acted as the line's New York agent. In 1876, John Williams died and the firm was restructured in 1883 to settle his estate. Then in January 1884, William Guion resigned from the firm because of bad investments unrelated to the steamship line and his 36 year-old nephew, William H. Guion Jr. was made partner of the now renamed Guion and Company. The firm had to be liquidated in 1886 when both Stephen Guion and William Guion Jr. died within weeks. The Guion Line was then reorganized as a public stock corporation.
History
Williams and Guion was formed by John Stanton WilliamsJohn Stanton Williams
John Stanton Williams with William H. Guion owned and operated the Williams and Guion Black Star Line.He married Mary Maclay Pentz and they owned a tract in Somerset, New Jersey which was inherited by their son: Stephen Guion Williams on February 28, 1891.-Stephen Guion Williams:Tulipwood was...
and Stephen Baker Guion (1820–1885). Guion relocated to Liverpool in 1852 as the firm's agent while Williams remained in New York. In 1853 Guion's older brother, William Howe Guion
William Howe Guion
William Howe Guion I with John Stanton Williams owned and operated the Williams and Guion Black Star Line.He was the son of John Guion and Maria Howe of Westchester County, New York. William married and had a son: William Howe Guion II .-References:*New York Times; January 20, 1884, Wednesday;...
joined the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
office. After the sailing packets were withdrawn, the firm supplied steerage passengers to the Cunard Line
Cunard Line
Cunard Line is a British-American owned shipping company based at Carnival House in Southampton, England and operated by Carnival UK. It has been a leading operator of passenger ships on the North Atlantic for over a century...
and the National Line under contract.
In 1866, Stephen Guion, by now a naturalized British citizen, established the Guion Line
Guion Line
The Liverpool and Great Western Steamship Company, known commonly as the Guion Line, was a British passenger service that operated the Liverpool-Queenstown-New York route from 1866 to 1894. While incorporated in Great Britain, 52% of the company's capital was from the American firm, Williams and...
of British flagged steamhips. The Williams and Guion partners owned 52% of the steamship line's capital and acted as the line's New York agent. In 1876, John Williams died and the firm was restructured in 1883 to settle his estate. Then in January 1884, William Guion resigned from the firm because of bad investments unrelated to the steamship line and his 36 year-old nephew, William H. Guion Jr. was made partner of the now renamed Guion and Company. The firm had to be liquidated in 1886 when both Stephen Guion and William Guion Jr. died within weeks. The Guion Line was then reorganized as a public stock corporation.