James Gordon Partridge Bisset

Who was James Gordon Partridge Bisset?

Sir James Gordon Partridge Bisset, CBE, RD was a British merchant sea captain who served as Commodore of the Cunard White Star Line. He documented his fifty-year sea career in a three volume autobiography: Sail Ho! My Early Years at Sea; Tramps and Ladies – My Early Years in Steamers and Commodore – War, Peace and Big Ships. In addition, Bisset authored Lifeboat Efficiency which became the primary text used by the British Merchant Marine until the Second World War for instructing merchant seaman in lifeboat utilization and handling, and Ship Ahoy ! : Nautical Notes for Ocean Travellers, a treatise on shipboard operations for the edification of passengers. He served in or commanded Cunard liners including Caronia, Franconia, Mauretania, Aquitania, Berengaria, Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth.