1860 Grace establishes merchant steamship line to serve the Americas. 1880 Grace opens offices in Chile. William Russell Grace is elected mayor of New York City for two terms. William Russell Grace accepts the Statue of Liberty from the people of France.
Grace inaugurates steamship service between New York and the west coast of South America.
1900 Grace opens offices in Argentina. 1907 Joseph P. Grace becomes company president. Grace establishes the Grace National Bank, forerunner of Marine Midland Bank. Grace sends the first commercial vessel through the newly constructed Panama Canal. The Santa Ana is christened as the first of the Grace Line passenger ships.