Did you know…
Until 1812 the British Royal Navy would seize Americans and force them into British military service. This was one of the causes of the war between Britain and the US between 1812 and 1815 (see Pressgangs).
British seamen in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries were extremely badly paid, but by helping to seize foreign ships they could earn rewards equivalent to a million dollars or more in modern terms (see Five Hundred Pounds Prize Money).
If Napoleon had been one year older he would have been Italian, his parents were Italian, his first language was Italian and he hated the French - at least in his younger life (see Napoleon Bonaparte).
Canadian Sir Provo Wallace served for 96 years with the Royal Navy (see Sir Provo Wallis).
“There Go the Ships” was written by the Reverend George E.A Shirley in 1889. It is a fascinating first hand insight into life onboard various British warships between 1793 and 1837.
“Hangings, Sinkings and Trust in God” draws upon the original text of “There Go the Ships,” adds modern historical text to fill in gaps, adds insight and interest to an already fascinating book. Together the two show how random chance can create fascinating, sometimes very diverse, connections.
