The house flag of Ellerman's Wilson Line Ltd, Hull. A white swallow-tailed burgee with a red disc (Wilson Line), Ellerman Lines's blue pennant above and the printed letters 'JRE'. The flag and pennant are made of a wool and synthetic fibre bunting. They have cotton hoists and are machine sewn. The pennant and flag are on a single rope with a toggle attached.
Thomas Wilson was born at Cottingham near Hull in 1792, joining Whitaker Wilkinson and Company as clerk following experience in the Baltic and North Sea. In 1822 a partnership was entered into with John Beckinton, also of Hull, as importers of iron ore. Their first ship was the tiny 51 ton ‘Thomas & Ann’, of which Wilson was Master. By 1835 paddle steamers had begun to be used.
In 1840 Thomas Wilson Sons and Company was formed with John West Wilson as agent in Gothenburg two years later. Early cargoes included bones, iron, oak bark, and deal timber.
By 1859 trade had expanded to include many Baltic ports. 1869 saw Thomas Wilson succeeded by his sons Charles Henry - later to become Baron Nunburnholme – and Arthur. Following the end of the Franco-Prussian war trade expanded, with an Adriatic base at Trieste and services to Venice and the Black Sea. In 1875 a Hull to New York service opened; but several ships were lost. The completion of the Suez Canal in 1888 brought trade with India and a number of larger steamers were built – the fleet eventually growing to 116 vessels, some by acquisition. Success saw offices opening in the Midlands and the North, with sailings from Grimsby, Manchester, Liverpool and Hull. In 1909 Arthur Wilson died, leaving sons Stanley, Kenneth and Clive in control. By the mid point of the First World War shipping losses had become unacceptable and the family decided to sell, the newly formed company becoming known as Ellerman’s Wilson Line Limited. Ellerman’s shipping companies were merged into one division in 1973