The A. P. Moller-Maersk Group () is an international business conglomerate more commonly known simply as Maersk. This article concerns the history of the company. The beginning of the A.P. Møller-Mærsk Group was the shipping company Dampskibsselskabet Svendborg, founded by captain Peter Mærsk-Møller and his son Arnold Peter Møller (2 October 1876 – June 1965) in Svendborg, 1904. A.P. Møller had four children, one of whom was Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller. In 1939, he became a partner of the company. After the death of A.P. Møller in June 1965, Mc-Kinney Møller became CEO of the company and had this post until 1993, when he was succeeded by Jess Søderberg. Beginning in 1965, Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller also served as company chairman and did not relinquish this position until December 2003 (when he was 90 years old). He was still one of the "managing owners" of the company at the time of his death and was chairman of Odense Steel Shipyard until 2 May 2006. 1886–1945: Beginnings to World War II 1886: Captain Peter Mærsk-Møller buys his first steamship, the British-built SS Laura. Photo 1904: The Steamship Company Svendborg is founded by Captain Peter Mærsk-Møller and Arnold Peter Møller. The company's first ship was the British-built 2,200 tdw cargo steamer Svendborg. 1912: Steamship Company of 1912 is founded by A.P. Møller. 1918-1919: A.P. Møller builds his own shipyard, the Odense Staalskibsvaerft near the Odense Canal in the city of Odense. Keels are laid for the first two ships. May 1920: The newly erected Odense Yard delivers its first ship, the Robert Mærsk. 1921: Odense Yard delivers its first diesel-powered vessel Leise Maersk to A.P. Møller. 1926: A.P. Møller enters into the tanker business and orders 5 motor tankers with 8,100 and 11,200 tdw. 1928: A.P. Møller begins the first liner service under the Name Mærsk Line with 6 motor ships, each 6000-7000 tdw on the Trans Pacific Route Far East - US West coast and via the Panama Canal to Baltimore. Feb. 1928: A.P. Møller gets its first tanker, the 11.200 tdw motor tanker Emma Mærsk, built by Burmeister & Wain, Copenhagen. March 1928: Odense Yard builds its first tanker, the 8,000 tdw M.T. Anna Mærsk. 1930: A.P. Møller becomes the co-owner of the weapons factory Riffelsyndikatet. In the following years he increases his share from 15 to 31.6%, to become the largest shareholder. 1934: Mærsk Line gets the 9,000 tdw cargo motorship