James Laing (shipbuilder)

He was born at Deptford House in Bishopwearmouth (later known as Sunderland) on 11 January 1823 the only son of Philip Laing and Anne Jobling.

The company had a strong connection to Duncan Dunbar & Co, building one ship per year for them from 1843 to 1863.

[3] Duncan Dunbar continued to build ships but switched builder to Pile, Hay & Co in Sunderland.

[1] Linked to this oil interest, which mainly obtained oil from Burma, Laing was involved from a very early stage in the construction and control of the Suez Canal and from around 1856 was a Director of the Suez Canal Company.

In this capacity in 1883 he represented British shipowners in lowering fees and duties at the canal.