I had several questions from readers after my Army enlistment post on Monday regarding the rules for enlistment for the British Navy during the Regency era. So here goes . . .

Could one purchase his rank in the Navy?

The navy did not allow the purchasing of rank. They took in young boys and trained them for various positions. As you wished your character is the 3d son of a marquis to join the Navy, that is perfect. Younger sons typically took on the services. 

England Royal Navy History site tells us: “Prior to the Tudor kings, the monarch could call upon merchant ships to supplement his own small fleet in times of war. In particular, trading privileges were granted in the Middle Ages to the south eastern coastal towns of Dover, Hastings, Hythe, Romney, and Sandwich (and later, Rye and Winchelsea), known as the Cinque Ports, in return for contributions to naval defence. The first Tudor king, Henry VII, had seven merchant ships, which in those days were easily convertible to defensive use. The Tudors recognized the need to have a strong navy to defend England as well as to develop trading and colonial interests abroad. His son, Henry VIII, greatly expanded this fleet and founded the English Navy Board in 1546 to oversee it. The latter’s daughter, Elizabeth I, developed it further, and it was during her reign that the Spanish Armada was repulsed in 1588. The fame of Samuel Pepys (1633-1703) as a diarist has obscured the fact that he was the energetic and capable naval reformer who superbly administered the Navy Board after 1660, during the reigns of Charles II and James II.

“Most families have some connection with the Royal Navy as it was one of the country’s largest employers for over 200 years. During the Napoleonic War period in the early 1800s a large sailing ship required nearly a thousand men. Sailor’s careers consisted of intermittent periods of paid work, especially during wartime, and unemployment. Many would alternate between naval and merchant service wherever they could find work. Captains were responsible for manning their own ships and keeping their own records, thus a great variety is seen today amongst those that survive.

“Seamen’s lives are often depicted as adventurous and exciting, but underneath the glamour there was another side as conditions were harsh in the navy, particularly for those below deck. Pay was poor and often delayed for months or years; food was atrocious; conditions dangerous; and punishment frequent and severe. There were people who chose the navy as their career voluntarily, but pay and conditions were better in the merchant service. Most seamen of the Royal Navy up to 1815 were recruited forcibly by the press system that favoured men used to the sea such as merchant seamen, ferrymen, fishermen etc. Navy recruiting centres were opened up in taverns termed rendezvous, where candidates were persuaded to touch the King’s shilling, the typical sign-up bonus. Harbour taverns, and merchant vessels at sea were raided by press gangs, and if these didn’t bring forth enough recruits then the prisons were emptied for the King’s hard bargains. Many men disappeared from parishes this way until the Press Gang died out in the early 19th century. Former sailors of any kind tended to move away from ports and inland to avoid the attentions of the press gangs. Certain numbers of sailors per fishing boat or merchant vessel were able to procure protection from the press and records of this from 1702-1828 are in ADM 7.

“It should also be noted that for various reasons many men used one or more aliases for different periods in the navy, or for navy and shore life. A clever idea was to enroll under an alias so that if later impressed he could revert to his real name and claim mistaken identity to be released (Michael Wood). Burnard paints a good picture of the press gang’s activity, and in an article about the press’s effect on the fishing villages of NE Scotland Mathewson states that only in 1830 was a limit of 5 years put on time served as an impressed man, and contends that impressing is still legal today.

“Conditions did improve in the 19th century, even flogging was abolished (during peacetime only) in 1871, and a regular scheme of entrance into the Navy came about with the Continuous Service Act of 1853. Men could enlist for a 10-year period from age 18, with regular increases in pay and a right to a pension after 20 years service. Those already in service often took up this offer as well, and thus it becomes far easier to trace them through the Continuous Service Engagement Books. In 1903 another system was introduced whereby men could sign on for 5 or 7 years, and commit another period of 7 or 5 years respectively, making a total of 12 years, to the Royal Fleet Reserve.”

Question: Were children enrolled prior to 1800? (see the paragraphs above for specifics)

They did enroll children before about 1800. After that they were not supposed to do so, but a father might take his son or an uncle his nephew as a cabin boy until he was old enough to be an official midshipman. The boy still had to pass the test. All the lieutenants were to be at least 21 years of age, but that did not always happen. Passing the lieutenant’s test did not automatically grant the young man a position. He did not receive the rank until he posted to a the ship.

Question: Did not some people get around that 6 years by having their sons when they were old enough to leave home join the navy? Were they not already lieutenants pretty much when they stepped foot on board?

This is very much the same as I said above. Many sons of dukes and marquesses did rise in the navy.

The youth would go in before he was 16 and had to pass a test and have 6 years service before he could be a lieutenant. Then his father’s or uncle’s or someone’s influence would earn him a berth on a ship and he would be promoted then by seniority.

Question: What were the age requirements for the Navy?

The age requirements in the navy existed, but were not always enforced.

Although children were legally considered infants until the age of 21, they normally began their working lives — or, at least, entered upon apprenticeships – between the ages of 12 and 15, so there was no reason why those contemplating a military career, especially the navy, should not do likewise. This is why, until 1795, the existing age limits had not been enforced. There had been many abuses of this ignored rule, which existed in both the Navy and Army. For instance, the famous frigate captain, Thomas Cochran, comments on his childhood, as he was being groomed for the army by his father:

“Unknown to my father, he [his uncle; Hon. Captain Sir Alexander Cochrane] had entered my name on the books of various vessels under his command; so that, nominally, I had formed part of the complement of the VESUVIUS, CAROLINA, LA SOPHIE, and HIND; the object common in those days – being, to give me a few years’ standing in the service, should it become my profession in reality.”

Thomas was twelve at the time. Simultaneously, however, another uncle obtained for him a commission, presumably as an ensign, in the 104th Foot because Thomas’ father, intended that he should indeed become a soldier. He had him dressed in a quasi-military uniform, featuring yellow waistcoat and breeches, and placed him in the hands of a military tutor. Five years later, at 17, young Thomas achieves his own ambition and goes to sea in June 1793—with five years seniority as a midshipman.  However, it isn’t until 1794 that he actually resigns his commission in the 104th.  Of course, during this time he was receiving pay for both commissions. There were no regulations actually forbidding this until 1795, partly because the army was not seen as an occupation equal to that of the Royal Navy, and partly because it was common practice for many officers, both army and navy, to take an ‘indulgence’, an extended leave of absence.

It wasn’t just a question of six years. You had to pass an exam to be made lieutenant, and those years as a young gentleman and midshipman were spent learning all the things you had to know to navigate a ship. And in the days before GPS, there was a lot to learn. Later on, influence certainly helped with promotions and assignments, but there was a certain minimal standard of competence for officers.

Unlike the army, the navy expected its officers to know what they were doing. If an army officer messed up, he only got men killed. If a navy officer messed up, he might lose a ship, and ships cost lots of money.

The England Royal Navy History site also provides us a break down of the positions aboard a ship. This might be helpful if you are writing naval scenes, etc. It goes like this:

“Organization of Royal Navy

Officers Commissioned by the Admiralty

They commanded ships, naval stations and detached squadrons; during peacetime many were put on a kind of retainer with no work, but receiving half-pay and liable for call-up as needed. Until 1860 appointment to the upper levels of officer rank was only by commission, which depended upon the ability to pay and the right social connections. It was possible, especially in wartime, for an outstandingly capable man to rise through the ranks from ordinary seaman through to commissioned officer.

• The Lord High Admiral commanded the whole battlefleet consisting of three squadrons of 3-7 ships-of-the-line and a number of supporting frigates and smaller vessels. The three squadrons were in a strict order of seniority:

1. Firstly, the Centre Squadron commanded by the Admiral of the Red2. Secondly, the Van Squadron commanded by the Admiral of the White3. Lastly the Rear Squadron commanded by the Admiral of the Blue

The admirals were the flag-officers who each oversaw his squadron from a ship recognized by a red, white or blue flag (hence flag-ship), but didn’t actually command that ship, which had its own captain. Admirals were promoted strictly on seniority.

• Commodores were in charge of isolated divisions or squadrons of ships; it was a function rather than a rank.
• (Post-) Captains commanded frigates and ships-of-the-line. Promotion to this coveted rank was by examination, merit and influence. He was termed a Flag-Captain if he had an admiral on board.
• Commanders and Masters commanded the larger vessels such as sloops-of-war.
• Lieutenants were graded as 1st to 6th according to length of time in the rank, were in charge of deck watches, and commanded a battery of guns; they could also command a small naval vessel such as a schooner or brig.

The Midshipmen (Middies) did not hold commissions, but were young gentlemen, usually from wealthy or aristocratic families, training to become commissioned officers. They joined at age 12-14 as junior midshipmen and slung their hammocks in the gunroom, where they were under the supervision of the gunner. They learned navigation and other skills from the captain or sailing master, and if there was a chaplain on board he would also act as schoolmaster to them. At about age 17 they passed up to senior midshipmen and transferred their hammocks to the orlop deck. Midshipmen had several responsibilities; they made and received flag signals, supervised groups of men aloft, and were in charge of a division of guns (Abranson). There were also Officer Cadets (Snotties) who were one rank lower than a midshipman.

The Royal Naval Academy for training midshipmen opened in 1733 in Portsmouth. In 1806 it was moved to Portsmouth as the Royal Naval College, and similar colleges operated at Greenwich and now Dartmouth, Devon. Rodger describes the various records of these colleges.

Warrant Officers worked for the Admiralty but most were regulated by the Navy Board or Trinity House. They came from the ranks but had passed examinations and were appointed by a warrant from the captain certifying their skills and rank. Surgeons, gunners and engineers had usually either served an apprenticeship or held a professional qualification.

• Ÿ(Sailing) Master was the most important non-commissioned officer aboard as he was in charge of navigation and of sailing the ship. In 1808 they became commissioned officers.
• ŸCarpenters were in charge of the hull and spars.
• ŸCoopers looked after the barrels.
• Sailmakers kept the sails, canvas covers, awnings and hammocks in good repair.
• ŸArmourers were the blacksmiths and responsible for small arms.
• ŸMaster-at-arms taught fencing with swords and cutlasses and was also in charge of discipline on the ship, and ensured that the curfew was observed.
• ŸBoatswain (Bosun) was in charge of all the rigging.
• ŸGunners were in charge of all the artillery and the powder magazines.
• ŸQuartermasters steered the vessel and acted as leadsmen when soundings for water depth were required.
• Cooks also held warrants and did the best they could with the meagre provisions they were assigned.
• ŸSurgeons held warrants after 1815 and were commissioned officers after 1843. Assisted by surgeon’s mates and orderlies known as loblolly boys.
• ŸPursers were in charge of the stores and accounts and held warrants after 1815 and were commissioned officers after 1843. They were assisted by purser’s mates.
• ŸChaplains.
• ŸNaval Instructors.
• ŸEngineers became commissioned officers in 1847.

The term Civil Officer was used to describe surgeons, pursers, chaplains, naval instructors and engineers. Likewise the term Petty Officer was used for Mates, who were assistants to various warrant officers e.g. masters mate, surgeons mate; Midshipmen; the Top-captains in charge of a gang of topmen working from the top; Gun-captains; and sometimes for Warrant Officers. The masters, boatswains and midshipmen were known as Standing Officers because they stayed to maintain the ship even when it was out of commission.

Ratings were the ordinary sailors and so-called because they were rated to various jobs according to their ability and experience. The old experienced men-o’-war men were rated fo’c’sle hands and worked the anchors and jibs etc. The agile younger men were rated topmen and worked aloft with the sails. In order of ability, and thus pay, were:

• ŸAble Seamen—the most experienced including helmsmen experienced in steering and taking 2-hour shifts at the wheel.
• ŸOrdinary Seamen—those with less experience.
• ŸLand(s)men—the inexperienced recruits who trimmed the braces from the waist (waisters) or from the quarter-deck (afterguard).
• ŸShip’s boys, aged 12-16, usually paupers and orphans, were at the bottom of the hierarchy and had all the menial jobs. Pauper boys could be apprenticed as young as seven to the navy and other sea service.

The description of a rating is further complicated by the fact that after 1853 he could have a navy rank, which was the highest type of position which he could hold, but actually be rated on his ship by the job he actually did at the time.