Naval History and Information

There were many roles and responsibilities for those that either volunteered or were pressed into service with the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic war.   

Life in the Navy was hard in the 19th Century and every soul worked tirelessly on ship and were Bulwarks and pride of England, in securing the dominance of the seas.

The name Jack Tar was commonly used to describe the seamen in the Royal Navy.  The crew were either volunteers who took a cash bounty to join a ship or for those more unfortunate who were forced into service against their will by the press gangs.  There were many ranks and specialists amongst the crew of a ship ranging from seaman to a warranted rank.  Those with little or no experience where known as Landsmen, who were "taught the ropes" early on in their service.

The Boatswain was the ships foreman ensuring work details were carried out and enforcing discipline.  His notable equipment was the whistle or "Boatswain Call".  

Other specialists included, Master-at-Arms,coxswain, carpenters, cooks and the gunner, all of which had assistants known as "mates".  During combat all specialists were expected to man the guns and engage the enemy, and repel boarders. 

The ship was commanded by the Post-Captain, who had started his career as a young volunteer or midshipmen at an early age.  Midshipmen were taught all the skills of seamanship, and in combat would command gun teams. Once they passed their seamanship exams they were eligible for promotion to Lieutenant, but this was difficult due to lack of posts, and made harder if they didn't have the patronage of an influential figure at the Admiralty.  Crew members often found themselves carrying out raids and fighting on land as well as at sea.

The Royal Marines provided ships with troops capable of fighting on land, as much the same way as infantry, or on board ship manning the guns, and acting as marksmen on the decks or in the tops.  A secondary duty was to protect the officers and ships by suppressing any mutiny amongst the sailors.

Marines were armed with the Brown Bess musket but also assisted in crewing the ships guns when needed.

The uniform was changed in 1802 following the granting of the title"Royal" to the unit name.  The short tailed single breasted red coat had blue facings on the cuffs and collar and white lace button loops.  The distinctive black round hat was made from lacquered felt, with a black cockade and marine button on the left, with a feather or wool tuft and brim edge binding to identify their Company or Division such as Battalions; white over red tuft, with a white hat brim edge.  Marines were also issued with crossed buff belts to hold a bayonet and a black leather cartridge pouch.  On board, the trousers were generally white, on occasions white breeches and black gaitors.  Landing parties for raids and collecting supplies was a common task, and marines would be accompanied by armed seamen (Jack Tars) and officers.  

The Age of the Buccaneers ended in the late 1600s, with the transgression into piracy beginning at the turn of the century with the likes of Long Ben Avery and William Kidd. Then in 1702 came the War of Spanish Succession also known as Queen Anne’s War with England fighting both France and Spain. In 1713 peace was declared leaving many unrequired sailors devoid of a livelihood, with little choice but to “go on the account” and become pirates.  Thus began The Golden Age of Piracy, with former privateers such as Benjamin Hornigold and Edward Teach (later Blackbeard) turning from heroes into villains. Others were tempted from the harsh life on-board merchant and slave ships, where they suffered overwork, poor pay and tyrannical captains. Life was far easier on a pirate ship as John Roberts (later Black Bart) found after being himself captured by pirates. Pirate ships were run on a democratic basis, governed by laws of their own making known as Pirate Articles, with compensation for injuries or loss of limbs and pirate captains elected or deposed by the crew themselves. Most sailed small fast sloops, brigs or schooners with a just few preferring larger powerful frigates. Unlike naval or merchant vessels pirate crews never suffered from the dreaded scurvy, due entirely to the consumption of vast quantities of rum punch which contained lime juice. Some pirate captains, like Sam Bellamy were of a reasonable disposition while others such as Ned Low were both vicious and cruel. They disrupted trade to such an extent that governments were forced to increase their naval presence in order to reduce attacks on shipping, and apprehend the pirates. The last major pirate stronghold was the island of New Providence in the Bahamas and in 1718 Governor Woods Rogers sailed into Nassau with orders to end piracy in the Caribbean. The pirate Charles Vane sent a fire-ship scattering 4 of Governor Rogers ships then sailed out of the harbour with cannons firing and flying his black-flag.  Former pirates were given the Kings Pardon, some went back on the account, and some become Pirate Hunters. Pirate crews were hunted, captured, tried and executed, while others turned to piracy and took their place. Although women were not usually tolerated on-board a pirate ship, there were exceptions, Anne Bonny and Mary Read were both pirates who sailed with Calico Jack Rackam. Blackbeard attacked HMS Scarborough which withdrew badly damaged, later he blockaded Charles Town, South Carolina with a pirate flotilla. The notorious Black Bart Roberts was reputed to have captured in excess of 400 ships, more than any other pirate. The life of a pirate was remarkably short, usually 1 or 2 years maybe 4 years if he were extremely lucky. Disease, drowning, marooning, hot lead, cold steel, starvation and execution have all ended the lives of pirates. By 1730 piracy in the Caribbean was virtually eliminated and The Golden Age of Piracy had come to an end.    

Kindly edited by Dave Farrer aka Captain Davy Sharkeye

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