Introduction (Second Edition)

Summary

After a professional interest in the individuals and firms which linked Britain with West Africa that has spanned almost forty years, it is sad to record the decline of a business that began in 1852. While Liverpool's trade with the region goes back to the sixteenth century, it was the African Steam Ship Company, and later the British and African Steam Navigation Company, which presided over its growth. The events which led to the amalgamation of these two lines, and their subsequent operation as Elder Dempster, formed the core of the first edition of this book. When published in 1973, it concluded with an optimistic view of the future which, regrettably, proved true only in the short term, as for a variety of reasons the trade became increasingly unprofitable from the early 1980s. The downward trends in the level of cargoes and Elder Dempster's share, allied to the growth of competition and an inability to secure adequate freight rates, so threatened the viability of the whole enterprise that it was sold to the established French operators Delmas Vieljeux in 1989.

My association with Elder Dempster began in 1961 when, after graduating from the University of Liverpool, I commenced an MA thesis on the life of Sir Alfred Jones. This was followed by an invitation to join the staff of the Department of Economics and by a PhD thesis on “British Shipping and the Growth of the West African Economy. “ While engaged in this doctoral research I naturally continued my many contacts with Elder Dempster officials, and these eventually led to the suggestion that I write an official history of the Company. After due discussion this was agreed on the understanding that no fee would be involved (so that my intellectual integrity would not be compromised) but that support would be given to visit the Coast and for eventual publication.

My first book, The Trade Makers, duly appeared in 1973 and was reprinted in 1980. Although I subsequently kept in touch with both the Company and many individuals associated with it, most of my teaching and research took me away from any direct involvement with either British shipping or West Africa.