Henry Ford charters a Peace Ship in an effort to end World War I

Historical Context Note

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 3.2.3: American (US) Writing and Culture: The Early Twentieth-century , 1900-1945.
Vol. editors: J. Michael Duvall (College of Charleston), Emory Elliott (University of California, Riverside), Dale Enggass (University of Utah), Matthew Hofer (University of New Mexico), Stephen E. Meats (Pittsburg State University), Tony Papanikolas (San Jose State University), Justin Parks (UiT - The Arctic University of Norway), Nick Selby (University of East Anglia)

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Date of occurrence 1915-12-04

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United States (Location)

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In 1915 American industrialist Henry Ford (30th July, 1863 - 7th April, 1947) chartered a 'Peace Ship' to send to Europe in a bid to end World War I. Ford, best known for his Ford Motor Company, believed that war was wasteful, and declared himself dedicated to the pursuit of peace, having an 'absolute confidence in the better side of human nature'. The steamship the

Oscar II

carried over a hundred peace activists to Sweden and the Netherlands. Though it received some praise, the peace party was largely ridiculed. Ford became unwell on the voyage and returned to America before the mission was complete.

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