RMS Empress of Japan (1891)

RMS Empress of Japan, also known as the "Queen of the Pacific", was an ocean liner built in 1890-1891 by Naval Construction & Armament Co., Barrow, England for Canadian Pacific Steamships (CP). This ship -- the first of two CP vessels to be named Empress of JapanThe second of two ships named SS Empress of Japan (1930) was built for CP to sail the trans-Pacific route.

Over the course of her career, the Empress traversed 4 million kilometres (2.5 million miles).

Royal Mail Ship

This Empress enjoyed the "RMS", meaning "Royal Mail Ship." This is the ship prefix still in use today by seagoing vessels which carry mail under contract by Royal Mail.

In 1891, Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) and the British government reached agreement on a contract for subsidized mail service between Britain and Hong Kong via Canada; and the route began to be serviced by three specially designed...
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