Colonial Despatches

William Schaw Lindsay, who began his career as a merchant in the navy in the 1830s, founded W. S. Lindsay & Co. Lindsay later became a ship owner and began to experiment with different types of ships, which enabled him to form his own company. His company then became one of the world's major ship owners.1

Enclosed in a despatch, W. S. Lindsay & Co advertised for passage to Vancouver Island on board the Tynemouth. The advertisement included rates, scale of provisions, and other information targeted specifically towards emigrants.2

• 1. Lindsay, William Schaw, 1816-1877, Royal Museums Greenwich.
• 2. Lindsay to Fortescue, 13 May 1862, CO 60/14, 4821, p.425.