RMS Lucania Passenger Lists 1898-1905
The RMS Lucania 1893 of the Cunard Line. GGA Image ID # 21e1fea697
All Digitized Passenger Lists For the RMS Lucania Available at the GG Archives. Listing Includes Date Voyage Began, Steamship Line, Vessel, Passenger Class and Route.
1898-12-24 RMS Lucania Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Saloon
Date of Departure: 24 December 1898
Route: New York to Liverpool
Commander: Captain Horatio McKay
Notable Passengers (VIP Travelers): Mr. Adolph Lewisohn (1849–1938), Mr. Josiah Royce (1855–1916), Capt. W. R. Barhotkin, Mr. R. Hargous, and Mrs. S. Van Rensselaer Cruger.
1899-06-17 RMS Lucania Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Saloon and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 17 June 1899
Route: Liverpool to New York
Commander: Captain Horatio McKay
Notable Passengers (VIP Travelers): Mr. Cornelius Vanderbilt (1843–1899 or 1873–1942), Miss Ruth Thompson (1887–1970), Col. R. M. Thompson, Mr. Neptune Blood, Mr. Louis S. Cates (1881–1959), and Dr. C. F. McGahan.
1900-09-08 RMS Lucania Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Saloon
Date of Departure: 8 September 1900
Route: Liverpool to New York
Commander: Captain Horatio McKay
Notable Passengers (VIP Travelers): Bainbridge Colby (1869–1950), William E. Dodge, Jr. (1832–1903), Sir William Osler (1849–1919), James Ford Rhodes (1848–1927), Charles M. Schwab (1862–1939), and John Ross Robertson (1841–1918).
1900-09-22 RMS Lucania Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 22 September 1900
Route: New York and Boston to Liverpool via Queenstown (Cobh)
Commander: Captain Horatio McKay
Notable Passengers (VIP Travelers): Mrs. J. T. Asherwood, Miss Julia O. Connor Kirby, Captain Brown, and Mr. Stanley P. Wadson.
1901-04-20 RMS Lucania Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Saloon
Date of Departure: 20 April 1901
Route: Liverpool to New York
Commander: Captain Horatio McKay (Lt., RNR)
Notable Passengers (VIP Travelers): Col. Hanbury Barclay, Baroness de Pallandt, Dr. W. N. Bullard, Lucius H. Smith, and Harald Mowinckel.
1902-08-16 RMS Lucania Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 16 August 1902
Route: Liverpool to New York
Commander: Captain Alexander McKay, F.R.G.S.
Notable Passengers (VIP Travelers): Captain Alexander McKay, F.R.G.S., Rev. L. Brophy, Mr. Thomas L. Bailey, Rev. D. C. Gardner, and Mr. G. F. Watts.
1905-11-18 RMS Lucania Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 18 November 1905
Route: Liverpool to New York
Commander: Captain J. B. Watt
Notable Passengers (VIP Travelers): Miss Annie Morris, Miss Ester Morris, Mr. George S. Seldes, and Capt. E. J. Sweeney.
Passenger Lists contained in the GG Archives collection represent the souvenir list provided to the passengers of each cabin class (and other classes). Many of these souvenir passenger lists have disappeared over the years. Our collection contains a sampling of what was originally produced and printed by the steamship lines.
Recap and Summary of the RMS Lucania Passenger Lists (1898-1905)
The RMS Lucania, launched in 1893, was one of the Cunard Line's most luxurious and fastest transatlantic liners during its era. It frequently carried prominent figures across the Atlantic, as evidenced by the digitized passenger lists in the GG Archives collection. These lists, covering voyages between 1898 and 1905, offer a remarkable glimpse into the social and economic elite of the time, as well as the experiences of second-class travelers.
This collection documents notable transatlantic crossings, emphasizing famous passengers, influential figures, and key historical moments from these voyages. Each list highlights the route, passenger class, and the commanding officer, providing a snapshot of maritime history during the late Victorian and Edwardian periods.
Noteworthy and Most Interesting Passenger Lists
1. December 24, 1898 – A Christmas Voyage from New York to Liverpool
📌 What makes it interesting?
- The festive holiday voyage aboard one of the most prestigious liners of its time.
- VIP passengers included Adolph Lewisohn (industrialist and philanthropist) and Josiah Royce (renowned American philosopher).
2. June 17, 1899 – Cornelius Vanderbilt Aboard
📌 What makes it interesting?
- A Vanderbilt onboard immediately signals wealth and influence. While it is unclear whether this was Cornelius Vanderbilt II (1843–1899) or Cornelius Vanderbilt III (1873–1942), either one would have been an elite transatlantic traveler.
- Other influential travelers included Col. R. M. Thompson (U.S. industrialist) and Louis S. Cates (future mining executive).
3. September 8, 1900 – A Who’s Who of Industrialists and Scholars
📌 What makes it interesting?
- Sir William Osler (father of modern medicine), James Ford Rhodes (Pulitzer Prize-winning historian), and Bainbridge Colby (future U.S. Secretary of State).
- Charles M. Schwab, an influential figure in the U.S. steel industry, also traveled on this voyage.
- A true intellectual and financial powerhouse of a passenger list.
4. April 20, 1901 – The Baroness de Pallandt’s Transatlantic Journey
📌 What makes it interesting?
- Baroness de Pallandt, a European aristocrat, brought a touch of continental nobility to the voyage.
- Notable travelers included Dr. W. N. Bullard, a physician of renown, and Col. Hanbury Barclay, adding military prestige.
5. August 16, 1902 – A Second-Class Voyage with a Notable Captain
📌 What makes it interesting?
- Captain Alexander McKay, F.R.G.S., the ship's commander, was also a passenger, making this voyage unique.
- Accompanying him were several clergymen, including Rev. L. Brophy and Rev. D. C. Gardner, indicating a religious presence on this voyage.
6. November 18, 1905 – One of Lucania’s Last Recorded Voyages
📌 What makes it interesting?
- Just a few years before Lucania was retired (1909), this passenger list captures the twilight of the ship’s service.
- Passengers included journalist George S. Seldes, who later became a pioneering investigative reporter.
Historical Significance of the RMS Lucania’s Passenger Lists
These passenger lists tell the story of an era where transatlantic crossings were not just about travel but symbols of social status, economic opportunity, and intellectual exchange. The RMS Lucania was a record-breaking ship, holding the Blue Riband for speed and representing British naval supremacy at the time. The voyages highlighted here include passengers who were leaders in industry, academia, finance, and the arts, reflecting the importance of these crossings in shaping international connections.
Conclusion: Why This Collection Matters
- A Glimpse into Gilded Age and Edwardian Travel – These lists showcase the most prestigious travelers of their time, many of whom shaped business, medicine, and culture.
- Rare and Valuable Historical Records – Many souvenir passenger lists have been lost, making these invaluable for researchers, collectors, and historians.
- A Window into Maritime Luxury – The RMS Lucania was a jewel in Cunard’s fleet, setting the standard for ocean liner travel before Titanic’s era.
This carefully preserved collection of RMS Lucania’s passenger lists (1898-1905) is a historical treasure trove, revealing who traveled, when, and why—offering a window into a vanished world of elite transatlantic travel.
