Category Archives: British Navy

Austen and Portrait Artists of Her Time

Posted on September 21, 2020 by

There are many people who have purported the idea that Austen presenting the Pemberley housekeeper the name of “Reynolds” in Pride and Prejudice is a reference to Joshua Reynolds, the most widely known artist of the late Georgian era. After … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, British Navy, Georgian England, Georgian Era, history, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, real life tales, Regency era, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Frances “Fanny” Austen and the Character of Mrs. Croft in Jane Austen’s “Persuasion”

Posted on September 11, 2020 by

Before discussing Fanny Austen, we must, first, establish the lady’s relationship to the author Jane Austen by mentioning the lady’s husband, Rear Admiral Charles John Austen (23 June 1778 – 7 October 1852), who was the sixth and youngest son … Continue reading →

Posted in America, American History, British history, British Navy, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, Persuasion, real life tales | Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Smugglers in Kent, UK, a Plot Device for “Losing Lizzy: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary”

Posted on June 22, 2020 by

In my latest Austen-inspired story, Losing Lizzy: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary, smugglers in Kent were mentioned several times. Yet, what do we know of these smugglers? Daniel Defoe wrote a poem about smugglers in Deal, Kent, who turned the … Continue reading →

Posted in book release, British history, British Navy, Georgian England, Georgian Era, historical fiction, history, Jane Austen, Living in the UK, Pride and Prejudice, publishing, real life tales, Regency era, research, Vagary, writing | Tagged , , , , , , ,

Rochester and Higham, Kent, UK and the Release of “Losing Lizzy: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary”

Posted on May 27, 2020 by

When I write my Pride and Prejudice based vagaries, I tend to place Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s fictionalize Rosings Park in the Rochester/Higham area of Kent. I choose this area for two basic reasons: (1) Rochester is about 30 miles … Continue reading →

Posted in Austen Authors, book release, British history, British Navy, buildings and structures, Church of England, estates, Georgian England, Georgian Era, historical fiction, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, Pride and Prejudice, real life tales, Regency era, research, Vagary, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

The Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, a Year Before Thomas Jefferson’s Document

Posted on May 20, 2020 by

Some of you realize, I live in North Carolina, a state draped in rich history. One of those events is the the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. A year before Thomas Jefferson’s “Declaration,” there was Meck-Dec, as we in the area … Continue reading →

Posted in American History, British history, British Navy, Declaration of Independence, Georgian England, history, political stance, research, war | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Queenborough Castle and Well + the Release of “Losing Lizzy: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary” + a Giveaway

Posted on May 15, 2020 by

Sheppey Castle [or Queenborough Castle] is located on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, England. King Edward III ordered the castle and the town surrounding it built in honor of his wife, Queen Philippa. The original land came from the manor … Continue reading →

Posted in book excerpts, book release, British history, British Navy, buildings and structures, eBooks, giveaway, Jane Austen, kings and queens, medieval, Pride and Prejudice, research, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 28 Comments

Press Gangs in the Regency Era

Posted on October 14, 2019 by

Press gangs operated in England from medieval times, but during the war years the “tradition” was increased. In fact, the pressing of free men into military service was considered a royal prerogative. Pressgangs claimed many innocents who stumbled into the … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, British Navy, Georgian England, Great Britain, history, Living in the Regency, Napoleonic Wars, Regency era | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

When the Sun Never Set on the British Empire, a Guest Post from Elaine Owen

Posted on July 12, 2019 by

This post originally appeared on the Austen Authors’ blog on 24 May 2019. Enjoy!  Today I’d like to share the first of two entries regarding a business entity that played a significant role in Jane Austen’s life. This public company … Continue reading →

Posted in Austen Authors, British history, British Navy, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Guest Post, history, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, military, real life tales, Regency era, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Militia Officers During the Regency

Posted on July 8, 2019 by

What were the differences between the various units of militia officers during the Regency? For example, how could George Wickham in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice serve in Hertfordshire when his home shire was Derbyshire? And how was Colonel Fitzwilliam’s … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, British Navy, George Wickham, Georgian England, Georgian Era, history, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, military, Napoleonic Wars, Pride and Prejudice, Regency era | Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Sailing the Seas on a Family Ship, a Guest Post from Collins Hemingway

Posted on May 22, 2019 by

This post originally appeared on Austen Authors in February 2019. Enjoy. Last week, we saw how Jane Austen’s family used connections to help promote the careers of her two sailor brothers, Frank and Charles. When we left them, the Napoleonic … Continue reading →

Posted in Austen Authors, British history, British Navy, family, Georgian Era, Guest Post, Jane Austen, Napoleonic Wars, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , ,