Alfred Holt facts for kids

Alfred Holt, a clever engineer and ship owner.

Alfred Holt (born June 13, 1829 – died November 28, 1911) was a British engineer and businessman. He lived in Liverpool, England. Alfred Holt is famous for creating a new type of steamship. This ship could travel very long distances, like from Britain all the way to China. His ships were so good they started to replace the faster sailing ships called clippers.

Alfred was one of six brothers. In 1866, he and his brother Philip Holt started a company called Alfred Holt and Company. They also created the Ocean Steam Ship Company. These companies owned and ran many ships. Alfred Holt & Co later became known as the Blue Funnel Line. His brother, Robert Durning Holt, even became the Mayor of Liverpool.

Building Better Steamships

Alfred Holt learned a lot about engineering by working for the chief engineer of the Liverpool & Manchester Railway. He learned about both machines and building structures. After his training, he became an engineering expert. Soon, he started helping to manage ships.

At the time, steamships didn't use the most efficient engines. Holt knew that using higher steam pressures would make engines much more powerful. This idea was already used in railway engines. He worked hard to convince the Board of Trade to allow these higher pressures on ships. His test ship, the Cleator, showed that it worked! It ran at much higher pressure than other ships.

Designing Ships for China

Holt then decided to design a steamship that could travel all the way to China. Back then, most cargo ships going to China were sailing ships. The journey from London to China was about 14,000 nautical miles (over 25,000 kilometers). The biggest challenge for a steamship was carrying enough coal for such a long trip. It also needed space for a lot of cargo. Holt's new design made this possible by making the engines much more efficient.

In 1865, Holt launched his new ship, the Agamemnon. He designed a special engine that was small but powerful. This left lots of room in the ship for cargo. He also created a strong but light ship hull that was easy to build. This complete design, with the higher boiler pressures, meant the Agamemnon could steam from London to China. It only needed one stop in Mauritius for coal on the way out and one on the way back.

This was a huge success, even before the Suez Canal opened in 1869. Other companies quickly copied Holt's amazing technology. By 1870, steamships were giving the famous tea clippers strong competition. By 1871, it was clear that steamships were the future for trade with China. Many new steamers were being built just for this route.

Alfred Holt's Family Life

Alfred Holt was married twice. His first wife was Catherine Long, whom he married in 1865. They had a daughter named Jane and a son named George. George later became one of the managers of the Blue Funnel Line, the company his father started. After Catherine passed away in 1869, Alfred married her cousin, Frances Long, in 1871. They had two more sons together.