[1] Thomas and James Harrison moved from the family farm in Cockerham, Lancashire, to the port of Liverpool to join the thriving shipping trade.

Closely involved with Samuel Brown, and integral to the development of the Liverpool firm, was Richard Williamson, trading out of France, who had been supplying cargoes of brandy from Charente.

Four small ships were bought for the brandy trade in the late 1830s, owned under varying co-partnership arrangements between the two sides.

[2] After the death of George Brown in 1853, the business continued under the name of T and J Harrison, still concentrating on the brandy trade into Liverpool and London.

Price competition led to Harrison’s withdrawal from the London market in 1863 giving impetus to the firm’s geographic expansion.

Another name also appeared then, that of the bookkeeper, John William Hughes who steadily increased his shareholding in the ships and he and his family played an important role in the development of the Harrison Line.

The 512 shares of £1,000 each were held by 32 individuals, being members of the Harrison, Hughes and Williamson families and their close friends.

[2] The 1860s had seen the expansion of the shipping line’s geographic operations, including the Mediterranean fruit trade, Brazil and India.

A permanent wharf was built for Harrisons in Galveston and, based on the import of cotton to Lancashire, it proved a very profitable route.

It also joined the container revolution, entering the Caribbean Ocean Lines consortium in 1977 and purchasing a ship for the South African trade.