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Events on Saturday 4 July 1840 1
1840Cunard Line launches first transatlantic steamship serviceBritannia departs Liverpool for North AmericaOn 4 July 1840, the paddle steamer Britannia departed Liverpool on the maiden voyage of Samuel Cunard's British and North American Royal Mail Steam Packet Company. The crossing to Halifax and Boston established the first regular transatlantic steamship mail service. The company later became known simply as the Cunard Line.