Donald Currie was born at Greenock on the 17th of September 1825. At a very early age he was employed in the office of a shipowner in that port, but at the age of eighteen left Scotland for Liverpool, where shipping business offered more scope.
Career
By a fortunate chance Donald Currie attracted the notice of the chief partner in the newly started Cunard steamship line, who found him a post in that company.
About 1856 he returned to Liverpool, where till 1862 he held an important position at the Cunard Company's headquarters.
In 1862 he determined to strike out for himself, and leaving the Cunard established the " Castle " line of sailing-ships between Liverpool and Calcutta.
The result of this decision was the founding of the successful Castle line of steamers (see under Steamship Lines), which after 1876 divided the South African mail contract with the older Union line, and was finally amalgamated with the latter under the title Union Castle line in 1900.
He introduced the two Transvaal deputations which came to England in 1877 and 1878 to protest against annexation, and though his suggestions for a settlement were disregarded by the government of the day, the terms on which the Transvaal was subsequently restored to the Boers agreed, in essentials, with those he had advised.
The first news of the disaster of Isandhl- wana in the Zulu War was given to the home government through his agency.
At the same time by diverting his outward mail-boat then at sea from its ordinary course to St Vincent, he enabled the government to telegraph immediate instructions to that island for conveyance thence by the mail, thus saving serious delay, and preventing the annihilation of the British garrison at Eshowe.
Achievements
Connections
Currie was married in 1851 to Margaret, daughter of John Miller of Liverpool and Ardencraig. They had three dauthers.