Persia

RMS Persia

The 3,300 ton; 398 ft-long Persia commenced service with Cunard Line on 26 January 1856.

The vessel captured the transatlantic speed record; and carried the accolade of being the first record breaker to have been constructed of iron.

The largest ship in the world at the time of her maiden voyage, Persia was paired with the Scotia on the New York service.

Once the newer Cunard Liner Russia entered service in 1867, Persia was removed from the transatlantic run and flagged for retirement.

It had been intended to sell the ship to MacArthur & Wilson for conversion into a sailing vessel, however these plans fell through and the ship was scrapped in 1872.

Image source: Wikimedia Commons.