BARON KYLSLANT

Evening Star, Issue 19456, 14 January 1927, Page 7

BARON KYLSLANT

WORLD'S GREATEST SHIPOWNER STARTED WITH ONE STEAMER Baron Kylsaut’s recent purchase of the White Star Line for about 34,000,000 dollars from the International Mercantile Marine, by which he made secure his position as the world’s greatest shipping operator, was the topic of much interest in London, but did not surprise his friends. Sir Owen Cosby Philipps became Baron Kylsant in 1923, A better title for him might have been Lord of the Seven Seas. For years he has been the greatest shipper of a nation of shippers, financially and physically. When this big Welshman presents his 6ft 7in of well-proportioned bulk in the streets those who pass turn to stare at him. Born with a tremendous capacity for work, business shrewd ness j and a desire for power, he has risen from a subordinate position with a Glasgow shipping company to tho control of 538 ships, trading in all parts of the world. What this means may be seen from the fact that his great rival, P. A. S. Franklin, president of the International Mercantile Marine, never controlled more than 130 ships. Two other ancient shipping dynasties, the Peninsular and Oriental and the Cunard Lines, he Jong ago surpassed in the amount of tonnage. The Peninsular and Oriental was once said to have held “the gorgeous East in fee.” Lord Kylsant’s ships now challenge that supremacy. By adding the White Star Line to the Royal Mail Line he now challenges the supremacy of the Cunard Line in the North. Atlantic.

Lord Kylsant is typical of the men, whom America must defeat to take the world’s shipping from Britain. It has hoen said that when Britain loses her; sea sense she is finished. The storm and stress of the World War caused, her to lose her naval supremacy. It did not cause her to lose her leadership in the cargo-carrying trade. In that business she has gone ahead, and as long as Britain produces men like Lord Kylsant she probably will con* tinue mistress of the merchant seas, Baron Kylsant does not come from a family of seamen. He was born in 1863, the third son of a clergyman. His father was the Rev. Canon Sir James Erasmus Philipps, Bart., Prebendary of Salisbury Cathedral. Lord Kylsant was educated at Newton College in South Devon. _ . After getting a start in shipping—ho acquired his first steamer in 1889Baron Kylsant, then Owen Coshy Phil* ipps, became interested in politics. After one or two lalso starts ho was elected to Parliament as a Liberal. A younger brother was a member for au adjoining constituency and another sat for Southampton. All_ three being enormous, thov used to interrupt the House of Commons when they entered together. In 1902 Baron Kvlsant became chairman of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, which he energised and rejuvenated. Since then his interests have grown steadily and enormously. Lord Kylsant’s first great shipping deal was the purchase for £1,500,000 of the Pacific Steam Navigation Company. To this ho added the Glen Line, and proceeded to build modern ships to put in the Far East trade. Next bo acquired the Shire Line. In the South American trade Lord Kylsant’s chief rival then > was the Lamport and Holt Line, which he acquired in 1912. By his purchase of the Forwood Line, Lord Kylsant captured part of the Mediterranean and North African trade, which he extended through the acquisition of the Shave, Savill, and Albion Lino, one of the White Star Line’s subsidiaries. After purchasing the Forwood Line Lord Kylsant gained control of the Union Castle Line’s fleet of fifty vessels, the owners of which had long controlled the fortunes of South Africa. The Elder-Dompster Line came next, and through it Lord Kylsant has helped to transform West Africa, once known as “the white man’s grave, into a health resort. Lord Kylsant is also a director of many companies air lied to the shipping business.