Editing Macgregor Laird (section)

=== Return to West African trade: the African Steam Navigation Company ===
Laird never went back to West Africa. However, upon renewed government interest in the affairs of West Africa after the appointment of [[John Beecroft]] as consul in the [[Niger Coast Protectorate|Oil Rivers]] and the 1851 annexation of [[Lagos]], Laird submitted a proposal to the government for regular mail communication by steamship between England and West Africa.{{Sfn|Tanner|1978|pp=101–102}}<ref name=ShippingEntrepreneur /> The proposal found favour with the government and he was given a mail contract including government subsidies. In 1852, he co-founded the African Steam Navigation Company. In 1854, he set up, with the government's support, a small steamer, the ''Pleiad.'' Under [[William Balfour Baikie|W. B. Baikie]], the ship made a successful voyage which enabled Laird to convince the government to sign contracts for annual trading trips by steamers specially built for navigation of the Niger and Benue.{{Sfn|Davies|2017|p=7-8}}<ref name=TheGoldenYears /><ref name=ShippingEntrepreneur /> Various stations were founded on the Niger, and though government support was withdrawn after the death of Laird and Baikie, British traders continued to frequent the river, which Laird had opened up to little or no personal advantage.