Havre-Union Line
| Company type | Partnership |
|---|---|
| Industry | Shipping, Maritime transport |
| Founded | 1820s |
| Founder | Francis Depau, William Whitlock, Jr. |
| Defunct | 1864 |
| Fate | Ceased operations due to American Civil War disruptions |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Area served | Transatlantic (New York to Le Havre, France) |
Key people | Francis Depau, William Whitlock, Jr., Samuel M. Fox, Mortimer Livingston |
| Products | Packet ship services (passenger and freight transport) |
The Havre Union transatlantic packet line originated in the 1830s through the consolidation of the Havre Old Line and Havre Whitlock Line. While maintaining their independence, these lines synchronized their schedules and operated collectively as a unified organization. In maritime commerce, a packet ship is defined by its regular, scheduled voyages along a designated route, typically serving a single shipping line.
The first American packet line connecting the United States and Europe commenced operations in 1818 with four vessels providing monthly service between New York and Liverpool. By 1822-23, three distinct packet lines were active on the New York to Le Havre route in France.
Havre Old Line
Motivated by Liverpool’s established success, Francis Depau founded the inaugural New York-Le Havre packet line in 1822, launching its first voyage on September 10 under Captain Miles R. Burke. This enterprise became recognized as the Havre Old Line.
Depau, born in France in 1773, initially conducted business in Saint-Domingue before relocating to Charleston as a result of the Haitian Revolution. By 1812, he had transferred his merchant operations to New York City, where he managed mercantile and shipping ventures. He also allied through marriage with the family of Comte de Grasse, a distinguished French naval commander.
The Havre Old Line began operations with two vessels, Stephania and Montano, jointly owned by Depau, Isaac Bell, and Captain Burke. Within its first year, the fleet expanded to include two additional ships: Henry and Lewis.
Depau’s company oversaw the line’s management, possessing warehouse facilities and coordinating freight shipments—including commodities such as cotton, grain, and naval stores—both on its own behalf and as agents for French imports. The firm also developed passenger transport services to support commercial expansion and market development.
Shortly after its establishment, rival lines appeared: the Havre Second Line launched in January 1823 followed closely by William Whitlock Jr.’s third line.
Havre Old Line ships
Vessels Operated by the Havre Old Line
| Name | Tons | Built | Service Years |
Avg Westbound Duration (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stephania | 315 | 1819 | 1822 – 1828 | 39 |
| Montano | 365 | 1822 | 1822 – 1829 | 38 |
| Henry | 257 | 1822 | 1823 – 1826 | 44 |
| Lewis | 412 | 1822 | 1823 – 1827 | 37 |
| Henri IV | 427 | 1826 | 1826 – 1837 | 36 |
| Sully | 456 | 1827 | 1827 – 1846 | 38 |
| Francois I | 496 | 1828 | 1828 – 1847 | 36 |
| Havre (I) | 480 | 1828 | 1829 – 1837 | 39 |
| De Rham | 492 | 1829 | 1829 – 1832 | 36 |
| Rhone | 471 | 1831 | 1831 – 1843 | 38 |
| Name | Tons | Built | Service Years |
Avg Westbound Duration (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlemagne | 442 | 1828 | 1832 – 1838 | 34 |
| Manchester | 561 | 1825 | 1832 – 1834 | 41 |
| Francis Depau | 595 | 1833 | 1833 – 1836 | 41 |
| 'Normandie' | '500' | '1833' | '1834 – 1837' | '37' |
| 'Sylvie De Grasse' | '641' | '1833' | '1834 – 1848' | '35' |
| 'Burgundy' | '762' | '1836' | '1836 – 1848' | '34' |
| 'Louis Philippe' | '794' | '1837' | '1837 – 1848' | '34' |
| 'Ville de Lyon' | '791' | '1837' | '1837 – 1845' | '37' |
| 'Iowa' | '874' | '1839' | '1839 – 1848' | '33' |
| Name | Tons | Built | Service Years |
Avg Westbound Duration (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 'Zurich' | '817' | '1844' | '1844 – 1863' | '35' |
| 'Havre (II)' | '870' | '1845' | '1845 – 1863' | '34' |
| 'Admiral' | '929' | '1846' | '1846 – 1863' | '33' |
| 'New York' | '991' | '1847' | '1847 – 1855' | '33' |
| 'Samuel M. Fox' | '1062' | '1850' | '1851 – 1855' | '34' |
| 'Isaac Bell' | '1072' | '1851' | '1851 – 1854' | '33' |
Havre Whitlock Line
In 1823, businessman William Whitlock, Jr. initiated the third packet service linking New York with Le Havre, France. Leveraging his expertise in shipping and cotton export, Whitlock also developed a coastal packet route between Savannah, Georgia, and New York City, enhancing the export of southern cotton to European markets. His approach centered on exclusive ownership and operation of his vessels, contrasting with competitors who divided ownership among agents and captains. This strategy provided a competitive edge until disruptions caused by the American Civil War.
The line began with the 306-ton vessel Cadmus, which served alone for five years before being replaced by the larger 450-ton Formosa in 1829. The fleet expanded with the arrival of the Albany in 1831 and continued to grow through 1838, eventually comprising four ships: Albany, Poland, Emerald, and Duchesse d'Orleans. Whitlock’s sole proprietorship over these ships simplified oversight and strengthened his position in transatlantic shipping markets.
Havre Whitlock Line ships
Vessels Operating Under the Havre Whitlock Line
| Name | Tons | Built | Service Years |
Average Westbound Voyage Duration (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cadmus | 306 | 1818 | 1823 – 1828 | 37 |
| Formosa | 450 | 1829 | 1829 – 1838 | 40 |
| Albany | 468 | 1831 | 1831 – 1847 | 39 |
| Poland | 546 | 1832 | 1833 – 1840 | 35 |
| Emerald | 518 | 1835 | 1838 – 1846 | 36 |
| Duchesse d'Orleans | 798 | 1838 | 1838 – 1852 | 38 |
| Argo | 967 | 1841 | 1841 – 1849 | 37 |
| Bavaria | 908 | 1846 | 1846 – 1853 | 33 |
| Splendid | 642 | 1846 | 1847 – 1853 | 41 |
| Gallia | 1190 | 1849 | 1849 – 1852 | 33 |
| Germania | 996 | 1850 | 1850 – 1863 | 38 |
| Helvetia | 971 | 1850 | 1851 – 1864 | 36 |
| Carolus Magnus | 1349 |
1853 – 1863 |
34 | |
| William Nelson | 1039 | 1850 | 1856 – 1863 | 42 |
Havre Union Line
During the 1830s, William Whitlock, Jr. owned three packet ships serving Le Havre and collaborated with the Havre Old Line, which was under the management of Samuel M. Fox and Mortimer Livingston following Francis Depau’s retirement in 1830. After Depau passed away in 1836, the firm continued as Fox & Livingston.
By 1833, operations of the Havre Whitlock Line and Havre Old Line were consolidated under the title Havre Union Line. Whitlock retained ownership of his vessels and served as their agent, while Fox & Livingston managed ships owned by other parties.
According to an 1835 report from the New York Evening Post, Havre Union Line packets departed New York on the 8th, 16th, and 24th of each month, returning from Le Havre on the 1st, 8th, and 16th. The fleet consisted of eleven vessels—eight from Havre Old Line and three from Whitlock's fleet—functioning essentially as a joint enterprise.
A decade later, in 1845, The New York State Register reaffirmed this schedule and listed twelve ships operating under agents William Whitlock, Jr. and Fox & Livingston, reflecting a stable operational framework and sustained market presence.
Havre Union Line Packet Ships in Service, 1845
| Name | Tons | Years in Service |
|---|---|---|
| 'Sully' | '456' | '1827–1846' |
| 'Albany' * | '468' | '1831–1847' |
| 'Silvie de Grasse' | '641' | '1834–1848' |
| 'Emerald' * | '518' | '1838–1846' |
| 'Burgundy' | '762' | '1836–1848' |
| 'Ville de Lyon' | '791' | '1837–1845' |
| 'Louis Phillippe' | '794' | '1837–1848' |
| 'Duchesse d’Orleans' * | '798' | '1838–1852' |
| 'Iowa' | '874' | '1839–1848' |
| 'Argo' * | '967' | '1841–1849' |
| 'Zurich' | '817' | '1844–1863' |
| 'Havre II' | '870' | '1845–1863' |
- Indicates vessels owned by William Whitlock, Jr.; agents included C. Bolton, Fox & Livingston (22 Broad Street), and William Whitlock, Jr. (46 South Street).
The Havre Union Line functioned as a partnership rather than a unified corporation. Advertisements from April 1845 reveal that individual vessels sailed under separate agents—Whitlock for the Argo and Fox & Livingston for ships such as Sully and Silvie de Grasse. This dual agency arrangement exemplified a collaborative business model that preserved market share until operations halted during the Civil War.
Lost ships
From 1822 through 1863, the Havre Old Line managed a fleet of 25 packet vessels, experiencing the loss of three ships due to wrecks and withdrawing two others following accidents. The Francois I underwent repairs and re-entered service, whereas the Francis Depau was condemned and sold off. The three vessels that were wrecked represented total losses.
| Name | Service Years | Incident |
|---|---|---|
| Lewis | 1823–1827 | Wrecked at Barnegat Inlet, New Jersey, March 6, 1827 |
| De Rham | 1829–1832 | Wrecked off Rockaway Beach, Long Island, March 31, 1832 |
| Ville de Lyon | 1837–1845 | Wrecked near La Hogue, France, February 2, 1845 |
| Francis Depau | 1833–1836 | Condemned and sold following an accident at Havre |
| Francois I | 1828–1847 | Temporarily out of service due to accident between 1839 and 1841 |
The Havre Whitlock Line operated a total of 14 ships from 1823 until 1864, losing just one packet vessel—the Poland—which was destroyed by fire at sea in 1840. Carrying specie valued at $108,000 along with cargo such as cotton and flour, the Poland caught fire after its foremast was struck by lightning. Due to an insufficient number of lifeboats, passengers were transferred into boats towed behind the ship while the crew remained onboard until they were rescued by the merchant ship Clifton. All passengers and crew survived despite the loss of the vessel.
End of the line
Operations of the Havre Union Line concluded by 1864 as a result of disruptions caused by the American Civil War. The line’s commercial model depended heavily on southern cotton shipments routed from New York to Liverpool and Le Havre; wartime shortages of cotton led to a significant decline in service. By 1863, sailings had been drastically reduced: the Havre Old Line cut its annual voyages from eight to three before completely withdrawing from service. Similarly, the Havre Whitlock Line decreased its fleet from four ships down to one by 1864. The final transatlantic packet voyage ended when Whitlock retired its last vessel, the Helvetica, marking the closure of the Havre Union Line’s operations.