Overview of Arthur Anderson

Ship owner. Born in Lerwick (Shetland), the son of a fish curer. He joined the Royal Navy at the age of 16, and fought in the Napoleonic wars. Moving to London (England) he was co-founder of the Peninsular Steam Navigation Company (1833) which became the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (1837). The company flourishes today as P&O, with an annual turnover exceeding £5 billion.

He tried to persuade the British government of the value of building a canal linking the Mediterranean and the Red Sea (1841). He failed, and it was not until a year after his death than the French built the Suez Canal. Anderson introduced the concept of cruising for pleasure (1844), rather than simply a means of transportation.

Anderson was Member of Parliament for Orkney and Shetland (1847-52). Also formed the Union Steam Ship Company (1853), to supply coal to his P&O ships. This later became the core of the great Union-Castle line.

Various philanthropic gifts included the Anderson Educational Institute in Lerwick (opened 1862).