The European & American Steam Shipping Company was founded in 1857 with the purchase of eight iron screw steamers from the General Screw Steam Shipping Company, which were paid for with shares in the new concern. The new company was managed by T.R. Croskey, American Consul at Southampton. Four of the ships the GOLDEN FLEECE, HYDASPES, CALCUTTA and the LADY JOCELYN were used for a service to South America, and the remainder the QUEEN OF THE SOUTH, INDIANA, ARGO and JASON were placed in a fortnightly service between Bremen, Southampton and New York. The service from Europe to North America was merely a repetion of the General Screw Steam Shipping Company and the QUEEN OF THE SOUTH, INDIANA, ARGO and JASON in that order sailed between Bremen, Southampton and New York at fortnightly intervals starting on 25 April 1857. The sailings were interspersed between those of the wooden paddle steamers of the American owned Ocean Navigation Company and the New York & Havre Steam Navigation Company on the New York - Southampton - Le Havre route.