IT began life as a gamble but grew into the most famous name in shipping and brought fame to Southamp-ton as one of the world’s great sea ports.

Back in the 19th century Samuel Cunard, pictured, an-swered an advert plac-ed by the British Govern-ment to fulfil a contract to carry the mail from Great Britain to America.

The proposition was a risky business as heavy financial penalties would be imposed on this fledgling transatlantic operation if deliveries were late, or, in those days, the ship was lost and never arrived.

Born in Canada Cunard was a highly successful entrepreneur in Halifax shipping and one of a group of 12 individuals who dominated the affairs of Nova Scotia.

Early investments in steam included co-founding the steam ferry company in Halifax harbour and an investment in the pioneering steamship Royal William.

Cunard came to the United Kingdom, where he set up a company with several other businessmen to bid for the rights to run a transatlantic mail service between the UK and North America.

It was successful in its bid the company later becoming Cunard Steamships Limited.

In 1840 the company’s first steamship, Britannia, sailed from Liverpool to Halifax, Nova Scotia, and on to Boston, Massachusetts, with Cunard and 63 other passengers on board, marking the beginning of regular passenger and cargo services.

Establishing a long unblemished reputation for speed and safety Cunard’s company made ocean liners a success in the face of many potential rivals, who lost ships and fortunes.

His name lives on today in the Cunard Line, now a prestigious branch of the giant Miami-based cruising empire, Carnival Corporation.

After many legendary vessels, including perhaps the most famous ship in the world, Southampton’s former Queen Elizabeth 2, which proudly bore the name of Cunard, the city- based fleet is made up of Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria.

Tomorrow all three ships are set to be alongside Southampton’s historic waterfront to officially launch a series of celebrations marking the 175th anniversary of the foundation of Cunard.

The whole fleet will depart Southampton at about 4.30pm with QM2 in the lead with Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria following behind down Southampton Water and out into the Solent.

After the three-ship meeting in Southampton Queen Victoria will depart on a seven-night Lusitania Remembered voyage, Queen Mary 2 will head for New York and Queen Elizabeth will set sail on a eight-night Northern Europe cruise calling at Hamburg and Amsterdam, where she will continue the anniversary celebrations.

The Lusitania Remembered cruise will commemorate the loss of Lusitania and of Cunard crew and ships in the First World War more generally.

Company flagship QM2 will recreate history when she sails from Liverpool on July 4 following in the wake of Cunard’s first vessel, Britannia, which left the city 175 years before to the day.

When Britannia swung out of Conburg Dock in Liverpool, one of the world’s greatest fleets was born.

Her crossing of the Atlantic in a fortnight marked a revolution in communication in an era when mail and newspaper could take six weeks to reach their destination.

Samuel Cunard himself was on board with his daughter as Britannia set sail across the Atlantic towards the USA.

One passenger summed up her maiden crossing: “Despite the spartan aspect of the voyage, the saving of time and the reliability of arrival augurs well for steam-propelled transatlantic vessels.”