Other notable names from the city’s past that can be found in the records include William Roscoe, one of the leaders of the campaign which succeeded in abolishing the slave trade in 1807, and William Ratcliffe, who received the Victoria Cross for his bravery during the Boer War.

Ancestry.co.uk International Content Director Dan Jones said: “These records detail the seminal moments of people’s lives in one of the country’s most vibrant cities, which has become a melting pot for different cultures and religions.

“Official records were not kept by the Government until Civil Registration in 1837, which makes parish records essential for tracing a relative or ancestor born, married or who died in Liverpool before then.”

Liverpool City Council’s cabinet member for culture and leisure, Cllr Wendy Simon said: “This is an extremely exciting initiative, and it’s wonderful that Liverpool’s rich history is now just a click away.

“These primary sources of information are invaluable for anyone tracing their family history in Liverpool and will provide a great insight into our diverse community over the past 400 years.”

During the 17th and 18th centuries, Liverpool's population steadily increased, and it was a staging post for Irish migrants on their way to North America from the early 19th century.

The city grew to be the second port of Britain, and a major centre of cotton trading, the importing of food and raw materials, the exporting of manufactured goods and coal, as well as insurance, banking and shipping.