A Gateway to the East: How P&O Made It Possible

In 1840 P&O was granted a contract to carry the mails to Alexandria, the major staging post in the transportation of mails to India. This contract was a precursor to the beginning of fast company growth, starting with the buying of 2 large ships, the Oriental and the Great Liverpool.

In December of 1840, the company was included by the royal charter under its existing name (Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company), with the sanctioned capital of £1 million, and Willcox and Anderson as cooperative managing directors. Regardless of the nonexistence of a mail contract at this point and the East India Company’s monopolistic hold on this trade, P&O was inclined to establish a consistent steamship service to India within 2 years.