
Contents
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Burdens and privileges of the mail contractor Burdens and privileges of the mail contractor
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P&O: origins to foundation P&O: origins to foundation
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The first phase of expansion: the Mediterranean and eastwards The first phase of expansion: the Mediterranean and eastwards
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Expansion to China, and opium Expansion to China, and opium
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Australia and new rivals Australia and new rivals
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Company constitution and internal divisions Company constitution and internal divisions
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Finance and technology Finance and technology
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Commercial principles and the needs of the nation Commercial principles and the needs of the nation
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Summary Summary
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Notes Notes
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Cite
Abstract
This chapter presents an introduction to the book “Flagships of imperialism,” which focuses on the intersection of P&O's history with British imperial politics until 1867. The objective of the company was to operate the main trunk routes to the East, from the Iberian Peninsula through the Mediterranean, to India, China and, ultimately, to the Antipodes with the help of government contracts and then to monopolize them. Despite the role played by the mail contracts in the expansion of the company, they once also threatened the very existence of the company itself. The monopolistic character of its business also exposed it to intense public and political scrutiny whereas the management of its managing directors (MDs) invited internal criticism from stockholders and some ordinary directors. Arthur Anderson, the most forceful of the company's original three managing directors was accused of autocracy, secrecy, mismanagement and pursuing commercially irrelevant political connections.
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