This Is the history of a frm and also. almost a biography. The house of Devitt and Moore has been engaged In sea trading and sea train~ ing since 1830, Thomas Lane, Devitt Became a_partner in the firm in 1800 and Until 1920 he was the ruling Influence In the house which his father, 'Thomas Henry Devitt, proprlately born at, Yarmouth and equally appropriately the son of an Irish ameer of the Royal' Navy, founded, "Actually the Devitts, their name suggests, were of Nether-fands origin, as they wore descended {from the same family of which Jan Witt (1625-72) the Liberator of [Holland was a member, Thomas Devitt first joined a firm of shipowners in Mark Lane, London, in 1818, fand then with a fellow clerk started the firm of Devitt and Moore, Ship and Insurance Brokers, Thelt first client was Robert Brooks, afterwards 3M, P. for Weymouth, who gave them 12 vessel to load on commission, and the story of this shipping' firm began, Those were the great days of sea trading, when British exports were demanded in all. parts of the world and were carried mainly in sailing "ships. 'Thomas "Lane. Devitt, who sueeceded his father In 1860, has the credit. of being one of ' the pioneers of organized training for the Merchant Service, Readers Pepys! Diary' will remember that in the time of Charles LI the sea train-Ing of apprentices was seriously tackled with the ce-operation of Lon-on's merchants and -the Governors of Christ's Hospital. The first ships which Thomas Lane Devitt fitted out for training apprentices -were the Hesperus and Harbinger, and Lord Brassey. took a number of: shares. in he two'ships, which actually started the scheme. for training. officers. for the Mercantile, Marine. Later came the establishment of' Pangbourne College, in war-tim: fof that' institution every sea-going man, 'Mr, Clement Jones has written, a Book' which will surely find its place Inthe library of all who take a practical Interest. in Grent Britain's fenelent and premier industry,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.