SS City of Paris (1888)

The SS City of Paris was a British passenger liner built by the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company in Govan, Scotland, for the Inman Line. Launched in 1888, she and her sister ship, City of New York, were the first twin-screw express liners and the first to exceed 10,000 tons. These ships were designed to compete with the Cunard and White Star Lines in the lucrative transatlantic passenger trade, particularly for wealthy passengers seeking rapid crossings.

The City of Paris was renowned for her speed and briefly held the Blue Riband for the fastest eastbound and westbound transatlantic crossings. Her luxurious accommodations and advanced engineering features made her a popular choice for travelers.

In 1893, the Inman Line was acquired by the American Line, and the City of Paris was renamed Paris and re-flagged to the United States. She continued to operate on the transatlantic route until 1898, when she ran aground off the coast of Cornwall during the Spanish-American War while chartered as an auxiliary cruiser.

The ship was severely damaged in the grounding. She was salvaged and refitted by Harland and Wolff in Belfast, becoming the Philadelphia in 1901. As the Philadelphia, she served primarily on the transatlantic route for the American Line.

During World War I, the Philadelphia served as a troop transport. After the war, she was briefly returned to passenger service before being scrapped in 1922.