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Speedy-class Brig
The ''Speedy'' class brigs were a two-ship class of brig built for the Royal Navy during the later years of the American War of Independence. They survived into the French Revolutionary Wars. Concept The ''Speedy'' class was designed in 1781 by the shipbuilder Thomas King, of Dover, a specialist builder of such craft. They were designed with a cutter (boat), cutter-type hull, and anticipated the development of a new concept of the brig in naval warfare, that of small, fast escort vessels, instead of the slower but more seaworthy sloop, ship-sloops. Their names were selected to epitomise this approach, , and . Small, light craft, they were 207 Tons Builder's Old Measurement, bm, and measured (overall) and (keel), with a beam of and depth in the hold. Armed with fourteen 4-pounders, giving a broadside weight of 28 pounds, and twelve pdr swivel guns, they had a crew of 70. This was broken up into 57 officers, seamen and Royal Marines, marines; 12 servants and boys; and 1 widow ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
HMS Speedy
Nine ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS ''Speedy'': * was a 14 gun sloop-of-war, launched in 1782. She was captured by the French in 1794, retaken by in 1795 and commanded by Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald, Thomas Cochrane in 1801. The French captured her again in 1801, whilst she was in the Mediterranean Sea, and donated her to the Papal Navy, She was struck in 1806. * was a gunboat serving on the Canadian Great Lakes. She was launched in 1798 and foundered in 1804. * was a brig-sloop, formerly ''George Herbert'', purchased in 1803 and sold in 1818 for use as a floating chapel. The chapel was used until 1834 then she was broken up. * was a six-gun Cutter (ship), cutter launched in 1828, converted to a dockyard mooring Lighter (barge), lighter in 1853 and renamed ''YC.11'' and broken up in 1866. * was a wood screw gunboat of the , launched in 1860 and broken up in 1889. * was a torpedo gunboat launched in 1893 and sunk by a mine in the Humber, Humber ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Widow's Man
A widow's man was a fictitious seaman kept on the books of Royal Navy ships during the 18th and early 19th centuries so that their pay and rations could be redistributed to the families of dead crew members. This financial arrangement helped keep widows from being left destitute following the death of their seafaring husbands. Practice The number of widows' men on a ship was proportional to the ship's size. A first-rate might have as many as eighteen, while a sixth-rate might have only three. The ratio was reduced by Admiralty order on 25 October 1790. The existence of widows' men served as an incentive for men to join the Royal Navy, rather than the Merchant Navy, as they knew that their wives would be provided for if they died. Historical research This procedure can lead to some confusion to modern students of history. For example, the sloop carried 153 men on its voyage exploring Puget Sound Puget Sound ( ) is a sound of the Pacific Northwest, an inlet of the Pacific Oce ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Whaling Ship
A whaler or whaling ship is a specialized vessel, designed or adapted for whaling: the catching or processing of whales. Terminology The term ''whaler'' is mostly historic. A handful of nations continue with industrial whaling, and one, Japan, still dedicates a single factory ship for the industry. The vessels used by aboriginal whaling communities are much smaller and are used for various purposes over the course of the year. The ''whale catcher'' was developed during the age of steam, and then driven by diesel engines throughout much of the twentieth century. It was designed with a harpoon gun mounted at its bow and was fast enough to chase and catch rorquals such as the fin whale. At first, whale catchers either brought the whales they killed to a whaling station, a settlement ashore where the carcasses could be processed, or to its factory ship anchored in a sheltered bay or inlet. With the later development of the slipway at the ship's stern, whale catchers were able to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Napoleon I Of France
Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led successful campaigns during the Revolutionary Wars. He was the ''de facto'' leader of the French Republic as First Consul from 1799 to 1804, then Emperor of the French from 1804 until 1814 and again in 1815. Napoleon's political and cultural legacy endures to this day, as a highly celebrated and controversial leader. He initiated many liberal reforms that have persisted in society, and is considered one of the greatest military commanders in history. His wars and campaigns are studied by militaries all over the world. Between three and six million civilians and soldiers perished in what became known as the Napoleonic Wars. Napoleon was born on the island of Corsica, not long afte ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Papal Navy
The Papal Navy ( it, Marina Pontificia, "Pontifical Navy"; la, Classis Pontificiae) was the maritime force of the Papal States. Loosely construed, it was in sporadic existence from approximately the Battle of Ostia (849) during the pontificate of Leo IV until the ascension of Pope Leo XIII in 1878. History Originally protected by the Byzantine navy, the Papal States found themselves in need of a naval force of their own following a Muslim raid on Rome in 843 and the sack of the city's basilicas ''extra muros'' in 846. Under the leadership of Caesar, prince of Naples, a force of Neapolitan, Amalfitan, Gaetan, and Papal ships repulsed the pirates off Ostia in 849. Later, the Papal States subsidized various fleets during the Crusades and outfitted some squadrons of their own, which participated with Venice and others against the Ottoman Empire following the fall of Constantinople. With hired and affiliated ships from Tuscany and Malta, one Papal squadron participated in the B ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Spanish Frigate El Gamo
The Spanish ship ''El Gamo'' was a 32-gun xebec-frigate of the Spanish Navy which was captured by Lord Cochrane in the action of 6 May 1801. The engagement is notable for the large disparity between the size and firepower of ''El Gamo'' and her opponent, the British brig ; the former was around four times the size, had much greater firepower and a crew six times the size of ''Speedy'', which had a reduced crew of 54 at the time. After her capture, ''El Gamo'' was sold to the ruler of Algiers as a merchantman A merchant ship, merchant vessel, trading vessel, or merchantman is a watercraft that transports cargo or carries passengers for hire. This is in contrast to pleasure craft, which are used for personal recreation, and naval ships, which are u .... References External linksBrief biography of Lord Thomas Cochrane, including the skirmish with El Gamo [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl Of Dundonald
Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald, Marquess of Maranhão (14 December 1775 – 31 October 1860), styled Lord Cochrane between 1778 and 1831, was a British naval flag officer of the Royal Navy, mercenary and Radical politician. He was a successful captain of the Napoleonic Wars, leading Napoleon to nickname him french: le Loup des Mers, lit=the Sea Wolf, label=none. He was successful in virtually all of his naval actions. He was dismissed from the Royal Navy in 1814 after a controversial conviction for fraud on the Stock Exchange. He helped organise and lead the rebel navies of Chile and Brazil during their respective successful wars of independence through the 1820s. While in charge of the Chilean Navy, Cochrane also contributed to Peruvian independence through the Freedom Expedition of Perú. He was also hired to help the Greek Navy, but did not have much impact. In 1832, he was pardoned by the Crown and reinstated in the Royal Navy with the rank of Rear-Admiral of the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Revolutionary France
The French Revolution ( ) was a period of radical political and societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789 and ended with the formation of the French Consulate in November 1799. Many of its ideas are considered fundamental principles of liberal democracy, while phrases like ''liberté, égalité, fraternité'' reappeared in other revolts, such as the 1917 Russian Revolution, and inspired campaigns for the abolition of slavery and universal suffrage. The values and institutions it created dominate French politics to this day. Its causes are generally agreed to be a combination of social, political and economic factors, which the ''Ancien Régime'' proved unable to manage. In May 1789, widespread social distress led to the convocation of the Estates General, which was converted into a National Assembly in June. Continuing unrest culminated in the Storming of the Bastille on 14 July, which led to a series of radical measures by the Assembly, inc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Deptford
Deptford is an area on the south bank of the River Thames in southeast London, within the London Borough of Lewisham. It is named after a ford of the River Ravensbourne. From the mid 16th century to the late 19th it was home to Deptford Dockyard, the first of the Royal Dockyards. This was a major shipbuilding dock and attracted Peter the Great to come and study shipbuilding. Deptford and the docks are associated with the knighting of Sir Francis Drake by Queen Elizabeth I aboard the ''Golden Hind'', the legend of Sir Walter Raleigh laying down his cape for Elizabeth, Captain James Cook's third voyage aboard HMS ''Resolution'', and the mysterious apparent murder of Christopher Marlowe in a house along Deptford Strand. Though Deptford began as two small communities, one at the ford, and the other a fishing village on the Thames, Deptford's history and population has been mainly associated with the docks established by Henry VIII. The two communities grew together and flouri ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Royal Marines
The Corps of Royal Marines (RM), also known as the Royal Marines Commandos, are the UK's special operations capable commando force, amphibious light infantry and also one of the five fighting arms of the Royal Navy. The Corps of Royal Marines can trace their origins back to the formation of the "Duke of York and Albany's maritime regiment of Foot" on 28 October 1664, and can trace their commando origins to the formation of the 3rd Special Service Brigade, now known as 3 Commando Brigade on 14 February 1942, during the Second World War. As a specialised and adaptable light infantry and commando force, Royal Marine Commandos are trained for rapid deployment worldwide and capable of dealing with a wide range of threats. The Corps of Royal Marines is organised into 3 Commando Brigade and a number of separate units, including 47 Commando (Raiding Group) Royal Marines, and a company-strength commitment to the Special Forces Support Group. The Corps operates in all environments ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
