The Sovereign of the Seas
In 17th century Europe, the Power of Kings was at its zenith and conspicuous display was all the rage. Louis XIV of France built the...
Mutiny on the Hermione
Mutinies occur much more frequently than most navies care to admit. They have been a part of life on board warships for centuries. The...
Admiral Duncan
One of the ironies of Lord Nelson’s famous “England Expects” signal before the Battle of Trafalgar, is the number of its recipients who...
Anchors
The first ships, which emerged in the Bronze Age, had little need for anchors. They evolved from trading boats that operated on great...
“To Glory We Steer” - The Battle of Quiberon Bay
By 1759, it was clear that France was losing the Seven Years War. From the jungles of India to the forests of North America, French...
Ship Time
In the 18th century, timekeeping on land was very much a local affair. There were no time zones, nor any concept that a whole area should...
The Piano Man
For Christmas, I am posting something a little different. I was asked to write a short story earlier this year, inspired by a song. I...
The Flying Dutchman
One of the more enduring legends of the sea is that of the ghostly ship, the Flying Dutchman, cursed to sail for all eternity, without...
The Indefatigable
The Indefatigable (44) was one of the best loved and most successful ships of the age of sail. During the two decades of the...
The Secret Pirate
In 1791, Able Seaman William Davidson of the frigate Niger was in trouble again. A gloomy, brooding Scot, he had a history of violence...
