Born in Halifax of Loyalist parentage, Cunard founded in the maritime provinces a commercial empire embracing banking, lumber, land, coal and, especially, shipping. Involved in transatlantic steam navigation from its early days, by 1839 he had won an Admiralty contract for a fixed schedule service to carry the Liverpool-Halifax-Boston mail. In July 1840 the Britannia, the first regular Cunarder, made her maiden crossing in 13 days. Having provided ships for service during the Crimean War, he was created a baronet in 1859. In 1861 he transferred his headquarters from Halifax to England, where he retired.