Fire Queen

The steamship Fire Queen loading/unloading at an un-named port.

Official No. 49805: Code Letters JGFN.

Owners: 1864 John Pile, J Spence & Thomas Miller, West Hartlepool: 1866 Thomas & J Harrison & Co, Liverpool: 1879 John Clark & Henry Swan in part payment for a vessel under construction by Chas Mitchell, Newcastle-on-Tyne: 1880 William Banks, Liverpool: 1887 R Beveridge, London: 1888 Christopher Furness, West Hartlepool: 1890 WF Conner, London: 1890 AF Anquetil et fils, Rouen, France-renamed Ferdinand A.

Masters: 1866-69 Williamson: 1872-74 J Day: 1877 Burley: 1878-86 Wilkinson: 1887-89 G Clark: 1890 Whiteman: 1893-94 Soulas.

Bound from Spain for Rouen with a cargo of wine Ferdinad A. was wrecked at Bervillo at the mouth of the Seine on 11 December 1894. Part of her cargo was saved.

Christopher Furness was born at New Stranton, West Hartlepool, in 1852, the youngest of seven children. He became a very astute businessman, and by the age of eighteen was playing a major role in his older brother Thomas’ wholesale grocery business, being made partner in 1872.

In 1882 the two brothers decided to go their separate ways, allowing Thomas to concentrate on the grocery business, while Christopher took over the ownership and management of the four steamships their company was then operating.

This was the beginning of what would eventually become the huge Furness Withy & Co. Ltd. empire. As many books have been written detailing the history of this company, its ships and its many subsidiaries, this section will only feature those ships with direct Hartlepool connections.

Some of the ships that were not built at Hartlepool but owned by Furness are listed below as 'a general history'