SCOTLAND AND THE SEA

The British Merchant Navy was supreme from the close of the Napoleonic Wars until the era of cheaper operating costs that emerged under selected foreign flags some 150 years later. Scottish engineering, ship-owning and operating ships, as well as enterpreneurial and business, all played a big part in the brilliant success of the Merchant Navy. Scottish emigrants took skills with them to the ends of Empire that promoted trade and wealth creation both at home and overseas.

In terms of engineering, 'Clyde-built', was the one time 'Kitemark' for the shipbuilding industry the world over. The shipowners of Scotland included household names such as Allan, Henderson and Donaldson, while Scotsmen were also instrumental in founding, and for much of the time managing, Cunard, Orient, British India, Glen and many other well known "English" companies.

The story is traced from a variety of angles, even from the role of people such as David Livingstone in developing trade. The school of the 'Honest Scot' working in the City of London includes the iconic tale of the takeover 'merger' of P&O by British India. This book aims to stir the memory and rekindle interest in this fascinating part of the history of the British Merchant Navy during the preparation of the book.