Teutonic leaving Liverpool in July 1889, oil on canvas, by William Lionel Wyllie. The RMS Teutonic was an ocean liner built for the White Star Line in Belfast and was the first armed merchant cruiser. The ship was built in 1889. When launched, Teutonic caused a sensation because she and her sister ship, RMS Majestic (1890), were the first luxury liners to be specially designed for potential use as armed merchant cruisers, with gun mountings, magazines and additional bunkerage. She is shown here as a brand new ship in port-bow view, sailing for the Spithead review held in honour of Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany on 4 August 1889. Teutonic is also shown flying the blue ensign from the stern (the colour of the Royal Naval reserve and auxiliary forces) and the White Star flag (a white star on a red ground). She has two funnels painted yellow and set far enough apart to enable the saloon to be placed in between. She is flanked by two attendant tugs and the city of Liverpool is visible behind her in the left distance.