James Baines & Co.

James Baines & Co. of Liverpool was the parent company of a fleet of packet ships running between Liverpool, England and Australia under the name of Black Ball Line.

The company was headed by James Baines along with Thomas Mackay. The company also had two junior partners in Joseph Greaves and John Taylor. The fleet, consisted of some of the world's finest sailing clippers such as Champion of the Seas, James Baines, Lightning, Indian Queen,Marco Polo, Red Rover, Ocean Chief and Sovereign of the Seas.

The flag of the company was a red swallowtail with a black dot.

The company founded in 1852 traded successfully until 1866 when Barned's Bank collapsed and the company which was one of its main debtors was forced to sell many of its ships. The Line carried on until 1871 when it ceased trading. Baines and his partners also owned several ships separate from each other.

James Baines (1822-1889) was the son of William Baines and Mary Picton. He married Anne Netherton in 1848 and had two daughters. His mother ran a very successful confectionery manufacturing business which provided sweets to the Royal Family after her husband died in 1829. This may have been the source of some of the funds he used to set up in business.

James Baines operated some ships under his own name after the ceasation of the Black Ball line.

James Baines has been suggested as an inspiration for the character of James Onedin in the popular BBC drama The Onedin Line, created by Liverpool-born Cyril Abraham. A leading character in the series was Captain Baines, played by Howard Lang.

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