Among the oldest continuously published periodicals in the world, Lloyd’s List dates back to 1734. Up until 2013, Lloyd’s List (also known as The List) was printed on a daily basis; since 2013, the publication has been updated hourly in its digital format only.

Edward Lloyd, the original owner of Lloyd’s Coffee House in London, started Lloyd’s News in the late 1690s for his regular customers, namely those involved in shipping such as insurance underwriters and merchants’ agents. Such clientele proved eager for various news and gossip. In this early iteration of what would become Lloyd’s List, there was no clear, exclusive focus on shipping, rather, Lloyd’s News was printed as a general news bulletin.

It was an evolving publication, however, and would soon become a source for reliable information for those concerned with the shipping industry. Thomas Jemson, who inherited the coffee shop after Lloyd’s daughter’s second husband died, is responsible for this version of Lloyd’s List. This shipping intelligence paper was published weekly up to 1735 when it began to be released twice a week. During this time, it covered details of ships arriving in English and Irish ports. By mid-1837, the paper was being published daily (excluding Sundays). Lloyd’s List joined up with the Shipping and Mercantile Gazette in 1884.

The details provided in Lloyd’s can aid in your research by providing, for instance, the movements of vessels and casualties at sea, as well as the names of owners and their ships.

Modern coverage in Lloyd’s includes such details pertaining to the shipping industry as marine insurance, research and logistics, and international shipping news.