A history of the General Steam Navigation (GSN) company, incorporated in 1824, formed by a small consortium of shipowners, including Thomas Brockelbank, with an original fleet of five Thames steamers. The book includes tables covering fleet disposition in 1826, the main routes served in 1914, losses to enemy action in the First World War, second-hand purchases between 1921-24, and excursion fleets of the New Medway Steam Packet company in 1936. The GSN was aquired by P&O in 1920 and in the 1960s became part of the North Sea Ferries and Normandy Ferries consortiums. Included is a comprehensive fleet list, including separate lists for excursion steamers, the New Medway Steam Packet Company, Moss Hutchison Line, Great Yarmouth Shipping Company, and the Grand Union (Shipping) Company. Illustrated extensively with black-and-white photographs and some colour reproductions.