The
Black Ball Line was a
passenger line founded by a group of New York
Quaker merchants headed by
Jeremiah Thompson, and included
Isaac Wright & Son (William), Francis Thompson and Benjamin Marshall. All were Quakers except Marshall. The line initially consisted of four
packet ships, the
Amity,
Courier,
Pacific and the
James Monroe. All of these were running between
Liverpool,
England and
New York City. This first scheduled
trans-Atlantic service was founded in 1817. In operation for some 60 years, it took its name from its flag, a black ball on a red background.