William Imrie
Encyclopedia
William Imrie was a Liverpool
shipowner who owned the White Star Line
. He was once known as “the Prince of Shipowners”.
, West Derby
, Ismay and Imrie decided they would form a partnership. When Imrie’s father died in 1870 the Imrie & Tomlinson business was transferred to TH Ismay and Company. This joint venture was to be called Ismay, Imrie and Company and was the parent company of the Oceanic Steam Navigation Company Ltd which was the White Star Line’s official name.
On 27 August 1870 the White Star Line was to launch the first of four new steamships which were built by the Belfast Shipbuilding company, Harland and Wolff
. During his lifetime many luxury liners including the SS Germanic
and the RMS Oceanic
were launched.
. Amy Elizabeth Rosalie Pollard (to become better known as Amy Elizabeth Imrie) was to become in 1910 to become responsible for funding of the building of St Mary of the Angel’s Church in Fox Street, Liverpool. Amy went on to enter the Convent of Poor Clares at Hertford
, an order of nuns dedicated to the memory of St Francis. Amy also gave the family home in Mossley Hill to the Poor Clares to become their first convent
in Liverpool.
. In later years as he excelled in business he moved into the even grander Holmstead in Mossley Hill
, a house which contained many fine examples of art including paintings by Strudwick
from whom Imrie was a patron.
.
.
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
shipowner who owned the White Star Line
White Star Line
The Oceanic Steam Navigation Company or White Star Line of Boston Packets, more commonly known as the White Star Line, was a prominent British shipping company, today most famous for its ill-fated vessel, the RMS Titanic, and the World War I loss of Titanics sister ship Britannic...
. He was once known as “the Prince of Shipowners”.
Early life
His father (also William) was partner in the firm of shipbrokers called Imrie & Tomlinson, based in Rumford Street, Liverpool. William Imrie went on to work for this firm which also took into it’s employment Thomas Ismay who was the son of Joseph Ismay, at this time a shipbuilder and timber merchant.White Star Shipping Line
In 1869 Thomas Ismay was in business by himself running ships to Australia. At a dinner in Broughton HallBroughton Hall
Broughton Hall is a Gothic house at Yew Tree Lane West Derby, Liverpool, England, built in 1860 for Gustavus C. Schaube, a Liverpool merchant originating from Hamburg...
, West Derby
West Derby
West Derby is a suburb in the north of Liverpool, Merseyside, England. It is also a Liverpool City Council ward. At the 2001 Census, the population of the ward was 14,801 .-History:...
, Ismay and Imrie decided they would form a partnership. When Imrie’s father died in 1870 the Imrie & Tomlinson business was transferred to TH Ismay and Company. This joint venture was to be called Ismay, Imrie and Company and was the parent company of the Oceanic Steam Navigation Company Ltd which was the White Star Line’s official name.
On 27 August 1870 the White Star Line was to launch the first of four new steamships which were built by the Belfast Shipbuilding company, Harland and Wolff
Harland and Wolff
Harland and Wolff Heavy Industries is a Northern Irish heavy industrial company, specialising in shipbuilding and offshore construction, located in Belfast, Northern Ireland....
. During his lifetime many luxury liners including the SS Germanic
SS Germanic (1875)
The SS Germanic was an ocean liner built by Harland and Wolff in 1875 and operated by the White Star Line. She was later operated by other lines under the names Ottawa, Gul Djemal and Gulcemal.-Germanic:...
and the RMS Oceanic
RMS Oceanic (1899)
RMS Oceanic was a transatlantic ocean liner, built for the White Star Line. She sailed on her maiden voyage on 6 September 1899 and, until 1901, was the largest ship in the world...
were launched.
Family
In 1872 William Imrie and his wife Hannah adopted the daughter of William PollardWilliam Pollard
William Pollard was a Quaker writer and recorded minister.-Early life:Pollard was born at Horsham, Sussex, on 10 June 1828, the son of James Pollard and his wife, Susannah. He became a junior teacher at the Friends' School, Croydon in 1843, and in 1849 entered the Flounders Institute at Ackworth,...
. Amy Elizabeth Rosalie Pollard (to become better known as Amy Elizabeth Imrie) was to become in 1910 to become responsible for funding of the building of St Mary of the Angel’s Church in Fox Street, Liverpool. Amy went on to enter the Convent of Poor Clares at Hertford
Hertford
Hertford is the county town of Hertfordshire, England, and is also a civil parish in the East Hertfordshire district of the county. Forming a civil parish, the 2001 census put the population of Hertford at about 24,180. Recent estimates are that it is now around 28,000...
, an order of nuns dedicated to the memory of St Francis. Amy also gave the family home in Mossley Hill to the Poor Clares to become their first convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
in Liverpool.
Properties
Imrie's family property was originally The Hermitage in Hayman’s Green, West Derby VillageWest Derby
West Derby is a suburb in the north of Liverpool, Merseyside, England. It is also a Liverpool City Council ward. At the 2001 Census, the population of the ward was 14,801 .-History:...
. In later years as he excelled in business he moved into the even grander Holmstead in Mossley Hill
Mossley Hill
Mossley Hill is a district of Liverpool, Merseyside, England and a Liverpool City Council Ward. It is located to the south of the city, bordered by Aigburth, Wavertree, Childwall and Allerton. At the 2001 Census, the Mossley Hill ward had a population which was recorded at 12,650.-Notable...
, a house which contained many fine examples of art including paintings by Strudwick
Strudwick
Strudwick is the surname of the following people:*Ross Strudwick, Australian rugby league footballer and coach*John Melhuish Strudwick , English Pre-Raphaelite painter*Strudwick , English cricketer...
from whom Imrie was a patron.
Religion and philanthropy
Imrie was a deeply religious person. He financially backed St Margaret’s Church on Princes Road and numerous charities around the city which he supported anonymously. He gave financial support to the Seaman’s Orphanage in Newsham ParkNewsham Park
Newsham Park in Liverpool, England is a Victorian park that was opened in 1868. To the east of it is the Canada Dock branch railway line, and to the north is West Derby Road.-History:...
.
Death
Imrie died in 1906. A service was held at St Margaret’s Church and his body was laid with that of his wife in the family plot in the graveyard of St Nicholas Church in HalewoodHalewood
Halewood is in Merseyside, England and is located in the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley. The district lies near Liverpool's southeastern boundary, bordered by the suburbs of Hunts Cross and Woolton....
.