Tag Archives: British Navy

What did Jane Austen Know of Prize Money Awarded by the British Royal Navy During the Late Georgian Era?

Posted on September 16, 2020 by

Prize money awarded by the British Royal Navy usually came about during naval warfare, but there were other means for a man to earn “his fortune.” The capture of enemy ships or of cargoes belonging to an enemy in time … Continue reading →

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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 →

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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

Purchasing Commissions During the Napoleonic Wars

Posted on January 4, 2018 by

We often read of a young gentleman purchasing a commission in either the militia or the regulars during the Regency era, but did conditions exist when a commission could not be secured? The answer is “Yes,” but there were conditions … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, British Navy, Georgian England, military, Napoleonic Wars, war | Tagged , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Origin of a Sea Shantie: “What Shall We Do with the Drunken Sailor?”

Posted on May 4, 2017 by

“What Shall We Do with the Drunken Sailor?” was a work song, mainly sung on ships with a large number of crewmen. According to Song Facts, it is one of the oldest Anglo-Saxon sea shanties, one sung by the Indiamen … Continue reading →

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Frigates, Treasure, Snobbery, and Jane Austen, Guest Post by Antoine Vanner

Posted on April 21, 2017 by

In October 2016 when Antoine Vanner posted this piece on his Dawlish Chronicles blog, I asked his permission to repost it here. At the time, he asked me to wait for a bit. Well, as they say, one thing led … Continue reading →

Posted in British currency, British history, British Navy, Victorian era | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

Do Jane Austen’s Novels Reveal Her View of Slavery? a Guest Post from Collins Hemingway

Posted on March 2, 2017 by

This post originally appeared on Austen Authors, but I thought many of you would also find it interesting. In Part I of this series, Collins Hemingway also speaks of England efforts to abolish the slave trade. You may read it … Continue reading →

Posted in Austen Authors, book release, books, British history, British Navy, historical fiction, history, Jane Austen, Napoleonic Wars, Persuasion, publishing, real life tales | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Jane Austen’s Love of the British Navy

Posted on April 6, 2016 by

In referring to the cult-like following of those who extolled all things involving Admiral Horatio Nelson, Jane Austen once wrote, “I am sick of Nelson.” Yet, the author always appreciated the lives of men in the Royal Navy. Two of … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, British Navy, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, real life tales, Regency era, Regency personalities | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Georgian Celebrity: Captain James Cook, Part 2: Cook’s Voyages

Posted on January 28, 2015 by

This post continues the one from yesterday, which introduced Captain James Cook. Voyages of Exploration First Voyage (1768–71)                 In 1766 the Royal Society engaged Cook to travel to the Pacific Ocean to … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, British Navy, exploration, Great Britain, real life tales, Seven Years War | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The Admiralty: Command of the Royal Navy

Posted on January 19, 2015 by

The Admiralty was the authority responsible for the command of the Royal Navy in the Kingdom of England, and later in Great Britain and until 1964 in the United Kingdom. Originally exercised by a single person, the Lord High Admiral, … Continue reading →

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