Alfred Holt

Alfred Holt (13 June 1829 – 28 November 1911) was a British engineer, ship owner and merchant. He lived at Crofton, Sudley Road, Aigburth in Liverpool, England. Holt is credited with establishing the long distance steamship by developing a type that replaced sailing clippers on the route from Britain to China. Alfred Holt was one of six brothers, born to George Holt and his wife, Emma. In 1866, he and his brother, Philip Holt founded the Alfred Holt and Company and the Ocean Steam Ship Company, which owned and operated the majority of the company's vessels. Alfred Holt & Co later became Blue Funnel Line. One of his other brothers, George Holt, was also a noted Liverpool merchant and ship owner. His youngest brother, Robert Durning Holt, was Mayor of Liverpool. All were Unitarians.