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The National Line, formally named the National Steam Navigation Company, was a British passenger line that operated steamship service in the 
The company was founded in 1863, with the intention of serving the southern United States when it appeared that the Confederacy would win the 
The National Line, formally named the National Steam Navigation Company, was a British passenger line that operated steamship service in the North Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the "Old World" of Africa, Europe an ...
in the late 19th century.
The company was founded in 1863, with the intention of serving the southern United States when it appeared that the Confederacy would win the Civil War
A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country).
The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...
and secede, as the Confederate states had a substantial cotton trade with Britain. After the Union victory, National quickly changed course and focused on carrying lower-class passengers and cargo on the traditional Atlantic route to New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
, initially from Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the 10th largest English district by population and its metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom, with a popul ...
and later from London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
as well. The line was successful for a time, paying a £120,000 dividend in 1869 and expanding its fleet to twelve ships by 1871. By the late 1800s, however, business had declined, and it discontinued its regular New York service in 1892. National was later purchased by the Atlantic Transport Line
The Atlantic Transport Line was an American passenger shipping line based in Baltimore, Maryland. In 1901 the company was folded into the International Mercantile Marine Company (IMM).
History
The line developed with railroad support as an offsh ...
and operated freight services only in the later part of its life until it was liquidated in 1914.
References
{{Reflist British companies established in 1863 Shipping companies of England Transatlantic shipping companies Transport companies disestablished in 1914 Transport companies established in 1863