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This section will, in time, contain the stories of more than 450 merchant ships built or owned in the Hartlepools, and which were lost during the First World War. As an illustration of the truly global nature of shipbuilding, these ships were owned by companies from 22 different countries, including more than 30 sailing under the German flag at the outbreak of war.

R.M. Middleton founded Middleton & Co. with the purchase of the steamship Rose Middleton from William Gray in 1874. All of the company’s eight ships were built in Hartlepool, four by William Gray and four by Withy. When the first Alverton was wrecked in 1879 they gave the name to another ship purchased in 1880.

The last of the ships were sold in 1886 and 1887, although Robert continued as a shipbroker and shipowner.

'Notice is hereby given that the partnership heretofore subsisting between us, the undersigned, Robert Hayes Carrick, of Bute Docks, Cardiff, in the county of Glamorgan; Otto Kramer Trechmann, of West Hartlepool, in the county of Durham; Albert Frederick Trechmann, of West Hartlepool aforesaid; and Robert Morton Middleton (the younger), formerly of West Hartlepool aforesaid, but now of Ealing, in the county of Middlesex, carrying on business as Ship and Steamship Owners, Ship and Steamship Managers, Ship and Insurance Brokers, Coal Exporters, and Commission Agents, at Cardiff and Barry Dock, in the county of Glamorgan, and Newport, in the county of Monmouth, under the style of "Trechmann, Carrick & Company," has by mutual consent been dissolved by the retirement of the said Robert Morton Middleton from the said Partnership, as from the 12th day of November, 1897. All debts due to and owing by the said late firm will be received and paid by the said Robert Hayes Carrick, Otto Kramer Trechmann, and Albert Frederick Trechmann, who will continue to carry on the said partnership business of Trechmann, Carrick, and Company" at Cardiff, Barry Dock, and Newport aforesaid. 12th November, 1897.'

Family History:

Robert Morton Middleton was born on 25^th January 1846 at Sowerby, Yorkshire to parents Robert Morton (banker’s agent for Backhouse Bank) and Mary Ann (nee Hutton) Middleton.  He grew up in Northallerton and also went into banking as a clerk for Backhouse Bank. Robert moved to Hartlepool and married Rose Helen Meredith on 7^th July 1870 at Christ Church. During their marriage they had five daughters and a son.

On the 1871 census Robert was listed as a banking accountant living at York Road, Stranton with his wife. By 1881 he was listed as a shipowner living at Hudworth Cottage, Castle Eden with his wife and five daughters. On the 1891 census Robert was listed as a shipowner and investment agent living at Ealing, Middlesex with his wife, four daughters and their son.

Robert was a keen botanist and a collector of natural history specimens and became a fellow of the Linnean Society. He stayed for a short while in Tennessee and then in Valparaiso, Chile. In 1890 he donated a large number of specimens to McGill University in Canada. He returned to England, probably in 1891 as he is listed in the census as living at Ealing, and was a temporary assistant at the Natural History Museum until his death.

Correspondence to and from Robert regarding natural history can be found on the internet.

 Robert died of appendicitis aged 63 on 9^th August 1909 at Carshalton, Surrey leaving effects of £9,268. His wife, Rose, died in 1923.

Founded in 1874 by Robert Ropner, the company owned, managed & built ships.