Liverpool was officially founded in the 13th century, but by the middle of the 16th century the population was still only around 500.

In the 17th century there was slow progress in trade and population growth. Battles for the town were waged during the English Civil War, including an 18-day siege in 1644.

In 1699, the city’s first slave ship, Liverpool Merchant, set sail for Africa. Then, as trade from the West Indies surpassed that of Ireland and Europe, Liverpool began to grow. The first commercial wet dock was built in Liverpool in 1715. Substantial profits from the slave trade helped the town to prosper. In the early 19th century Liverpool also played a major role in the Antarctic sealing industry.