The Hull & Leith Shipping Co and the Leith & Hamburg Shipping Co combined in 1836 to form the Hull & Leith Steam Packet Co. They merged with the Edinburgh & Dundee Steam Packet Co in 1847 and in 1848, control of the company was vested in Thomas Barclay, a well-known Glasgow shipbuilder, and Robert Cook of Leith. They worked together towards expanding the company's activities. In 1852 a regular sailing between Leith and Hamburg caused a change of name to the Leith Hull & Hamburg Steam Packet Co Ltd . In 1862 James Currie joined the company and was responsible for an extensive programme opening up more routes. In 1866 Donald Currie & Co was formed jointly by James Currie and his brother, Donald Currie. In 1891 there was a period of depression and a number of vessels were laid-up in Leith. Trade steadily increased and by 1905 it was doing well. By 1919 Donald Currie & Co ceased to operate and their remaining steamers were transferred to the Leith, Hull & Hamburg Steam Packet Co. In 1933 the Isaac Line Ltd was acquired, resulting in the entry of the company into Portuguese, Western and Central Mediterranean trades. By 1940 , all regular sailings were suspended and so the name Leith, Hull & Hamburg Steam packet Co was no longer appropriate. The company name was changed to Currie Line Ltd . In 1969 Walter Runciman & Co Ltd ( now controlled by Anchor Line Ship Manangement Ltd) acquired Currie Line Ltd and launched themselves into the bulk carrier trade. In 1976 the Anchor Line Ltd structure was recast and had five operating divisions - Anchor Line Eastern Services Ltd (concerned with Eastern commercial activities); Anchor Line Ship Management Ltd (handling the bulk carriers and any managed vessels); Currie Line Ltd ( concerned with European services, mainly with chartered tonnage, warehousing and road haulage); George Gibson & Co Ltd (concerned with the gas tanker fleet); Runciman Shipping Ltd (dealing with the administration). Anchor Line Eastern Services Ltd, Anchor Line Ship Management Ltd and George Gibson & Co were all active in 2005.
From the guide to the Records of Leith Hull & Hamburg Steam Packet Co Ltd, shipping company, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1816-1970, (Glasgow University Archives Service)
