View source for Calcutta and Burmah Steam Navigation Company

{{Short description|Former British company}}
{{Infobox company
 | name   = Calcutta and Burmah Steam Navigation Company
 | logo   =
 | type   = 
 | foundation     = 1856
 | defunct        = 1862
 | location       = [[London]]
 | key_people     = 
 | num_employees  = 
 | industry       = [[Transport]]
 | products       = Mail Shipping
 | successor      = [[British-India Steam Navigation Company]]
 | revenue        = 
 | parent         = 
 | homepage       = 
 | footnotes      = 
}}
The '''Calcutta and Burmah Steam Navigation Company''' (C&BSN) was a British steamship company formed in 1856 and absorbed into the [[British-India Steam Navigation Company]] in 1862.

==History==
The Calcutta and Burmah Steam Navigation Company (Limited) was formed in [[London]], [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|United Kingdom]] in 1856. Its directors were J. Halliday, [[Sir William Mackinnon, 1st Baronet|William Mackinnon]] and Robert Mackenzie. It was founded with an initial capital fo [[Pound Sterling|£35,000]] in 700 £50 shares. The company was set up to provide a [[steamship]] service between [[Calcutta]], [[Company rule in India|India]] and [[Moulmein]], [[British Burma|Burma]] and the intermediate ports of [[Akyab]] and [[Rangoon]], on behalf of the [[East India Company|Honourable East India Company]], with any spare accommodation being offered to the public. Services were to commence on or before 15 November 1856.<ref name=Times151056>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=(advertisement) |date=15 October 1856 |page=5 |issue=22499 |column=C }}</ref><ref name=TEFP021056>{{cite news |title=The Epitomist |newspaper=Trewman's Exeter Flying Post |date=2 October 1856 |location=Exeter |issue=4721 }}</ref>

The contract was renewed in 1862, when the service was extended to [[Singapore]]. From October 1862, the C&BSN served Akyab, [[Bimlipatam]], Calcutta, [[Chittagong]], [[Coconada]], [[Curlew Island (Andaman and Nicobar Islands)|Curlew Island]], [[Kurrachee]], [[Kyook Phyoo]], [[Madras]], [[Malacca]], [[Mergui]], Moulmen, [[Negapatam]], [[Penang]], [[Puducherry (city)|Pondicherry]], [[Poorie]], [[Port Blair]], Rangoon, [[Sandoway]], Singapore, [[Tavoy]] and [[Vizagapatam]].<ref name=DN190862>{{cite news |title=Money Market |newspaper=Daily News |date=19 August 1862 |location=London |issue=5078 }}</ref><ref name=DN290962>{{cite news |title=The Overland Mail |newspaper=Daily News |date=29 September 1862 |location=London |issue=5113 }}</ref> In November 1862 its name was changed to British India Steam Navigation Company (Limited) [BISNCo.].<ref name=E151162>{{cite news |title=Commerce |newspaper=The Era |date=15 November 1862 |location=London |issue=2859 }}</ref> Robert Mackenzie had died in 1853, even before the company had been formed but William Mackinnon, who was chairman of the shipowning companies from the earliest years until his death in 1893, is considered the 'father' of the company. He was created baronet in 1889.{{cn|date=February 2024}}

At the time of its inauguration and for many years afterwards, C&BSN and then BISNCo. were supervised by Mackinnon, Mackenzie & Co as Managing Agents. This company acquired many trading interests during its life, including [[tea]], [[jute]] and management of BI's [[coal]] mines in India.{{cn|date=February 2024}}

==Ships==
The C&BSN operated the following ships:- <!-- listed in chronological order -->
*''Cape of Good Hope'', an auxiliary steamship.<ref name=MC271056>{{cite news |title=Advertisements & Notices |newspaper=Morning Chronicle |date=27 October 1856 |location=London |issue=28030 }}</ref>
*{{SS|Burmah|1858|2}}, Built by [[Scotts of Greenock|Messrs. Scott & Co]], [[Greenock]] and launched on 3 February 1858.<ref name=Burmah>{{cite web |url=https://www.clydeships.co.uk/view.php?year_built=&builder=&ref=19968&vessel=BURMAH |title=Burmah |publisher=Shipping and Shipbuilding Research Trust |accessdate=2 February 2024 }}</ref>
*{{SS|Calcutta|1860|2}}, built by  Messrs. William Simons & Co., [[Renfrew]] and launched on 24 March 1860.<ref name=Calcutta>{{cite web |url=https://www.clydeships.co.uk/view.php?year_built=&builder=&ref=21197&vessel=CALCUTTA |title=Calcutta |publisher=Shipping and Shipbuilding Research Trust |accessdate=2 February 2024 }}</ref> Wrecked on the Arklow Bank, in the [[Irish Sea]] off the coast of [[County Wicklow]], on 21 May 1860 whilst being delivered to Madras. All on board were rescued.<ref name=NWC260560>{{cite news |title=Loss of Two Steamers |newspaper=North Wales Chronicle |date=26 May 1860 |location=Bangor |issue=1730 }}</ref>
*{{SS|Coringa|1861|2}}, built by Messrs. Alexander Stephen & Sons, [[Kelvinhaugh, Glasgow|Kelvinhaugh]] and launched on 24 January 1861.<ref name=GH250161>{{Cite news |title=Launch |newspaper=Glasgow Herald |location=Glasgow |date=25 January 1861 |issue=6565 }}</ref>
*{{SS|Moulmein|1861|2}}, built by Messrs. William Simons & Co., and launched on 12 February 1861.<ref name=Times230261>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Steam Shipbuilding on the Clyde |date=23 February 1861 |page=11 |issue=23864 |column=C }}</ref><ref name=GH130261>{{Cite news |title=Launch |newspaper=Glasgow Herald |location=Glasgow |date=13 February 1861 |issue=6581 }}</ref>
*{{SS|Bussorah|1862|2}}, built by Messrs L. Hill & Co., Greenock, and launched in November 1862.<ref name=Times221162>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Steam Shipbuilding on the Clyde |date=22 November 1862 |page=7 |issue=24410 |column=F }}</ref>

==External links==
*[http://www.biship.com/ BI Ship (British India Steam Navigation) site]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:British companies established in 1856]]
[[Category:Defunct shipping companies of India]]
[[Category:British companies disestablished in 1862]]