The PS Royal William of Quebec

World trade was revolutionized in the 19th century when ships went from sail to steam. Crossing the Atlantic under steam was clearly an engineering and navigating feat to be celebrated.

A controversy thus developed about which was the first steamship to make the crossing, who built it, and where. Several ships, including the Great Western and the Sirius from the U.S. and the Curaçao from Holland, have claimed the title.

The truth is that the Paddle Steamer Royal William, built at the Campbell and Black shipyard in the Port of Quebec, earned the title when it steamed across the Atlantic from Pictou, Nova Scotia, to Portsmouth England in 1833.

Campbell & Black Shipyard, Quebec

Maritime historian Eileen Reid Marcil has devoted years to researching the history of the PS Royal William and its designers and builders, examining all the relevant records worldwide regarding both the Royal William and its principal contenders.

With this book she has laid the controversy to rest, proving beyond doubt that the PS Royal William was the first vessel to span the Atlantic under steam, the First True Transatlantic Steamer.

Eileen Reid Marcil, now 98 years old, is a maritime historian. Her previous books include The Charley-man: A History of Wooden Shipbuilding at Quebec 1763-1893 and Tall Ships and Tankers: The History of the Davie Shipbuilders. Ms Marcil received her doctorate from Université Laval on her 65th birthday. Her thesis was entitled Shipbuilding at Quebec, 1763 ‑ 1893: The Square Rigger Trade. She has devoted herself to making known Quebec’s great shipbuilding history ever since. She now lives in Montreal.

Table of contents
The PS Royal William of Quebec	1
Contents	7
Acknowledgments	9
Prologue	13
Chapter 1. The Forerunners	17
Chapter 2. The Quebec and Halifax Steam Navigation Company	25
Chapter 3. The Team	31
Chapter 4. Building the Steamboat	37
Chapter 5. On the Saint Lawrence River	43
Chapter 6. Crossing the Atlantic	51
Chapter 7. Portugal	55
Chapter 8. Spain	59
Chapter 9. Honour in her Homeland	65
Epilogue. The Controversy	75
Conclusion	86
Appendices	89
Appendix A. Contract and Specification. George Black with the Quebecand Halifax Steam Navigation Company, July 1 and 6, 1830(Greffe of the notary Lauchlan Thomas McPherson (CN301), ANQQ)	91
Appendix B. Specifications and Tender for engines: Bennet and Hendersonwith the Quebec and Halifax Steam Navigation Company, August 28, 1830	97
Appendix C. Contract for building the cabins of the steamship between Joseph Andrewwith the Quebec and Halifax Steam Navigation Company, January 22, 1831	100
Appendix D. Ratification of a contract made in Montreal on March 19 1831,between Charles Fry and William Stevenson, April 23, 1831	102
Appendix E. Registration, Quebec, August 22, 1831	104
Appendix F. The 235 Founding Shareholders of the Quebecand Halifax Steam Navigation Company	108
Appendix G. Extract from a report of the committee of the Quebecand Halifax Steam Navigation Company (transcribed as written)	110
Appendix H. Registration of Steam Ship Royal William, Quebec, 22 May 1833	112
Appendix H. Pictou Custom House register, MG 100 vol. 227 no. 8d, Nova Scotia Archives, Halifax	115
Appendix J. Observations on the weather and other occurrenceson the PS Curaçao’s 26 day passage in 1828 from Hellevoetsluis, Holland, to Paramaribo, Surinam	116
Appendix KJournal of the House of Commons of the Dominion of Canada,15 March to 23 July 1894, inclusively, Vol. XXVIII, Session 1894, pp. 174-175.	119
Glossary	121
Bibliography	123
Index	129

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