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la Compagnie des Messageries Maritimes |
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Founded: |
1862 |
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Ceased: |
? |
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Updated: 9 July 2007
Notes:
In July 1852 was formed la Compagnie des Services Maritimes des Messageries Imperiales to provide regular mail communications. By 1857 the compagnie owned 57 ships.
About 1862 service was being provided between France and its colonies in Cochin China.
On 21 November 1862 their first steamer arrived at Singapore with mail from Europe. From that date a monthly service was provided to the Far East. Eventually this became a fortnightly service.
The French mail line of the Messageries Imperiales, as it was then termed, began to run towards the close of the year. Messrs. Hinnekindt Freres and L. Cateaux, a Belgian firm of very good standing, which began as Hinnekindt Freres in Singapore in 1849, were the Agents in the preliminary arrangements.
The first steamer of the company to arrive from Suez, bringing the mails from London of 18th October 1862, was the Imperatrice, which arrived at Singapore on the 21st November 1862. The steamer Alphée going homewards about the same time. It was then and for some years afterwards a monthly service, and was due to the opening of Cochin-China and the Port of Saigon by the French. Emperor Louis Napoleon took a great interest in the line, and it was said that the arrangement for the building of the steamers was due to him. The first steamers were built at La Ciotat near Marseilles by Scotch shipbuilders engaged from the Clyde to work there, and after a few vessels had been built, the French workmen went on alone, and built very fine steamers. The Imperatrice was afterwards called the Provence, on the downfall of the Emperor. [B05p695]
By that steamer on the 21st November 1862, Mr. Paul Brasier arrived at Singapore to arrange to take over the Agency from Messrs. Hinnekindt. Mr. Brasier lived in Singapore for many years, and died here on 24th September, 1887, having been Agent for the Company all the twenty five years, and it is not too much to say that the success of the line, and especially as regards the number of English passengers from Singapore who travelled by the French mail, was largely due to his being very much liked. [B05p695]
He lived with his family for a great many years at St. James, Keppel Harbour, where he died. When he died his son Réne, was away at Hongkong. Mr. Réne continued in the Company's Agency here, and latterly was Agent, but he left Singapore in 1900 for Sydney, where he was appointed Agent, as the most important Branch in the East. [B05p695]
In 1871, after the French monarchy was abolished, the name was changed to la Compagnie des Messageries Maritimes. From then onwards, the company was often referred to simply as MM.
During WWII the fleet was partitioned between the Allies and Vichy France such that by 1945 only 21 ships were left.
Between 1969 and 1972, factors such as the independence of French's colonies and the increase of air travel caused the whole passenger fleet to be disposed of.
In 1977 MM became part of the Compagnie Generale Maritime.
By1981 la Compagnie des Messageries Maritimes had disappeared from Lloyds Register.
Refernence [W05p170] as well those listed below.
The Singapore agency of this Company coincides with the arrival of the Imperatrice on 18 October 1862, in De Souza’s buildings and at d’Almeida’s Pier. The agency at Batavia was established in 1864. Two lines existed in 1905: Ligne “A”, to Aden; Ligne “B” to Djiboutil [sic], branches Singapore to Saigon, Singapore to Batavia, and a monthly cargo-boat service, the whole amounting to twelve a month from Singapore. [Additional information from John Wilson 20 November 2006. [M04]]
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