Ulster Firm One of Lloyd's Oldest Agents
ULSTER FIRM THAT WAS ONE OF WORLD'S OLDEST LLOYD'S AGENTS With regret the shipping community of Belfast have learned that the 120 year old shipping firm of Sinclair & Boyd are to resign their agency for the famous Lloyd's concern. THE firm of Sinclair and Boyd was established at Belfast in 1822 and has now been connected with Belfast shipping for 120 years. On the death of Mr. Nicholas Fitzsimmons (Lloyd's Agent at Belfast) in 1859 Mr. Robert Boyd was appointed as his successor and the firm of Sinclair and Boyd now claim to be one of the oldest Lloyd's agents in the world. The shipping community of Belfast have learned with great regret that this old-established concern now propose to resign their Lloyd's agency. In the earlier days the duty of Lloyd's agent dealt almost exclusively with shipping, but on occasion he was authorised to act in matters relating to fire and non-marine business when so desired. It must be remembered that the master of a ship has absolute control over both ship and cargo, and nothing less than a special power can take his control away from him. In the event of a disaster it is his province [to?] act for the good of all concerned, just as if the ship, cargo and freight were his own personal property. In doing so he will not sacrifice the cargo [for?] the benefit of the ship, or vice-versa. He can, if he so chooses, appoint an agent to act on his behalf, and in the event of a disaster Lloyd's agent is the most desirable man to act for him. The duties of the agent are primarily to protect the under-writers of both ship and cargo from fraud and negligence. In the case of shipwreck and in the absence of the master or owner Lloyd's agent takes charge of the wreck and makes such arrangements for its protection as he thinks fit. The original partners in the firm [?] Messrs. Sinclair and Boyd were Mr. William Sinclair and Mr. Robert Boyd, who, I understand, was a native of Armagh. About the end of the [1830's?] Mr. Sinclair severed his connection with the firm and, without changing the name, the business was carried on Mr. Robert Boyd. In the next generation the three sons of this Mr. Boyd, Messrs. Henry, Robert, and William Sinclair Boyd, were the heads of the firm, and to-day its chief is Mr. Robert Sinclair Boyd, a grandson of Mr. Robert Boyd, one of the founders. In their ealy days Messrs. Sinclair and Boyd were described at [as?] shipowners West India and general merchants. They had extensive West India interests and were probably also shipowners from the time they started business, and early in 1826 they commenced to build their ships locally. Mention is made that on August 5, 1826, the firm of Messrs. Ritchie & M'Laine launched from their shipyard a beautiful brig named the Emulus, of about 200 tons burthen, built of British and Sierra Leone oak. It was said that she went off the stocks "in desirable style amid the cheers of a vast concourse of people," and that she had been built for our respectable young townsmen Messrs. Sinclair & Boyd and was intended for the West India trade. The Emulus had a long career and was a tribute to her builders. The Lina was another of the firm's ships. She was built by Charles Connell & Sons in 1847. A young girl was killed at her launch by a piece of ordnance that was fired as she came off the stocks. In 1851 this vessel arrived at Belfast from Barbadoes with a cargo of sugar, having made the round voyage, loaded with a full cargo both ways, in two months and 26 days. They were also the owners of the beautiful little schooner Cree, built by Charles Connell in 1840, and said to be the smallest vessel that ever cleared out of this port for a voyage across the Atlantic. In 1844 their brig the Morgiana made the record passage of the season from Belfast to Miramichi. Another of their West India traders was the brig Parrsboro. She sailed the day after the mail steamer and arrived at our quay on June 9, 1843, the same day that the mail steamer arrived at Falmouth. In 16 hours she discharged her full cargo of sugar and inside a week sailed again fully laden for a West India port. The firm wee also owners of the barque Rebecca, built by Alen M'Laine in 1834; the Lady May Fox and the Waringsford. The latter vessel went missing in 1851. In nearly all the vessels I have mentioned a Mr. James Macnamara, of Holywood, had a financial interest with Mr. Robert Boyd. When Mr. Boyd was appointed Lloyd's agent in 1859 the firm had their offices at 45 Donegall Quay. They were afterwards for many years in Waring Street, and are now in Linenhall Street. The residence of Mr. Boyd, some of the ruins of which are still standing, at the top of what is now the Bloomfield Road, will be remembered by many of the older residents of the district. His estate has been developed for building purposes, and Messrs. Sinclair & Boyd are the managers of it under the name of the Bloomfield Land and Building Co. Ltd. They also carry on their large insurance business.Close