Began as a shipbroking company. The inauguration of a liner service to Australia with the packet boat 'Orient' in 1866 saw the company trade as The Orient Line of Packets, regularly shortened to Orient Line.
In 1877 merged with Pacific Steam Navigation Company to become the Orient Steam Navigation Company. From the early 20th century onwards, an association began with P&O which became 51% shareholder in 1919 and culminated in the Orient Line being totally absorbed into that company in 1966.
Leyton Orient FC was named for this company.
