Samuel Cunard

Sir Samuel Cunard, 1st Baronet Cunard ( born November 21, 1787 Halifax, Nova Scotia, † April 28, 1865 in London) was a Canadian businessman and owner of the Cunard Line.

Cunard was born the son of a timber merchant who had fled the American Revolution to Halifax.

As a very successful entrepreneur in Halifax and as one of twelve influential persons, who directed the economic fortunes in Nova Scotia, Samuel Cunard went to England, where he tried along with several other businessmen to obtain the rights for transatlantic shipping company between England and North America. This led to the founding of the Cunard Steamship Limited.

1840 sailed the first steamboat of the company - the Britannia - from Liverpool, England to Boston, Massachusetts. This was the foundation for a regular freight and passenger transport across the Atlantic.

The successful firm took over the Canadian Northern Steamships Limited and its closest competitors, the White Star Line, owners of the Titanic. Through the acquisition of the main competitors, the Cunard Line dominated the transatlantic trade.

Cunard also had a few other companies in Canada. His coal company is still one of the largest oil companies in Nova Scotia.

1859 Samuel Cunard was knighted by Queen Victoria. The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax, the entire second floor is dedicated to his life and his shipping company.

Sir Samuel Cunard died in London, England and was buried in Brompton Cemetery.