"Royal William" (Ship)

James Goudie, formerly of Quebec, Canada, built the vessel in 1830-31 and called it the Royal William in honor of the reigning sovereign of Great Britain. The vessel was designed as a steamship to sail between Quebec and Halifax; was towed to Montreal to have the engine installed by the firm of Bennett and Henderson, St. Mary's Foundry. Later, her route was extended to Boston, and she was the first steamship to enter Boston Harbor. Trade not being sufficiently large, she was sold to a company in London. Samuel Cunard was one of the shareholders, and consequently the Royal William often was called the pioneer ship of the Cunard Line. Subsequently the ship was sold to the government of Spain and turned into a war vessel in that navy.