It was set up to operate passenger routes between Britain and Bombay, India via the Suez Canal.

In 1881 the company was joined by an influential Glasgow businessman and his firm of Thomas Dunlop & Sons, and the Clan Line Association of Steamers was established.

In 1890 the company became The Clan Line of Steamers Limited with Cayzer holding the majority interest.

They used these new assets to expand their routes into the Persian Gulf and to North America, and to begin to carry cargo.

This was a timely decision: the sale took place just prior to the Black Monday stock market crash and, two years later, British and Commonwealth went into receivership.

The ships of the Clan Line were usually distinguishable by their names, the vast majority of which had the prefix 'Clan'.

Only 1 crew member was killed[33] 1946 purchased from Ministry of War Transport, renamed Clan Macrae 1959 transferred to Bullard King & Co., renamed Umgeni 1960 transferred to Springbok Line, renamed Gembok 1961 transferred to Safmarine, renamed South African Financier 1962 scrapped 16 November 1942 torpedoed and sunk by U-92 NW of Gibraltar, with the loss of 3 lives[34] On 9 June 1944 during the Normandy landings she was scuttled off Sword Beach as a Corncob block ship for a Gooseberry Harbour.

Locomotive number 35028 built in 1948 carries the name "Clan Line" and is currently maintained in fully operational condition for hauling excursion trains on the UK's national railway system.

Clan Line company used on its ships a general flag with a red lion on a white rhombus on a red background and second flag with a rhombus and lion on tartan belonging to the clan after which the ship was named.