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Gale Force 10: The Life and Legacy of Admiral Beaufort
Known as the Beaufort Scale, the shipping forecast broadcast on the radio has never been bettered and, as a result, never replaced. This lasting legacy of Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort is only part of his overall contribution to the world of the mariner, scientist, and antiquarian. Nicholas Courtney chronicles the life of this unsung hero whose early years come straight from the pages of "Hornblower" pirates, wars, and royalty, and whose later life carries on from "Longitude." The story, set at the turn of the 19th century, of this courageous officer who was instrumental to the major discoveries and surveys of his day, not least the voyages of the Beagle and the subsequent fame of Charles Darwin, is told here for the first time.
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
352 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2003
20 people want to read
About the author
Nicholas Courtney
16 books2 followersThere is more than one author with this name
Nicholas Courtney is an author, broadcaster and lecturer. After graduating from the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester he managed two estates in Northamptonshire, then took a sabbatical to travel in Europe and sail the length and breadth of the Mediterranean.
It was then (1970) that his love affair with the Croatian littoral began. On his return to England he was appointed the general manager of the Island of Mustique in the West Indies where he stayed for four years.
He then began writing, at first fiction followed by historical non-fiction. Among his many published works are the best-selling Gale Force 10, the life and legacy of Admiral Beaufort (he of the wind scale), the award-winning The Queen’s Stamps, the Official History of the Royal Philatelic Collection, and Swinley Special.
Nicholas Courtney is an author, broadcaster and lecturer. After graduating from the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester he managed two estates in Northamptonshire, then took a sabbatical to travel in Europe and sail the length and breadth of the Mediterranean.
It was then (1970) that his love affair with the Croatian littoral began. On his return to England he was appointed the general manager of the Island of Mustique in the West Indies where he stayed for four years.
He then began writing, at first fiction followed by historical non-fiction. Among his many published works are the best-selling Gale Force 10, the life and legacy of Admiral Beaufort (he of the wind scale), the award-winning The Queen’s Stamps, the Official History of the Royal Philatelic Collection, and Swinley Special.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 1, 2024
The Beaufort Scale - Its measurement of the force of the wind is probably the thing that most people know about Admiral Beaufort. It may be his greatest legacy but Nicholas Courtney’s Gale Force 10 the life and legacy of Admiral Beaufort shows there is so much more to him than this simple scale. A naval officer through the Napoleonic wars serving on board one of the most effective frigates in the fleet, a surveyor, a pioneering supporter of arctic exploration, the hydrographer instrumental in developing a comprehensive set of charts for Britain’s coastlines, and a scientist. This is a brilliantly written biography that is easily accessible.
“On the morning of 17 March 1789, the wind was in the right quarter to carry the Long Ferry from Billingsgate… When she finally tied up at the Three Crowns Causeway, her assorted passengers, mostly sailors and tradesmen leapt onto the dock and were instantly absorbed by the crowded waterside street. Totally out of place among this rough company was a diminutive, though dapper, figure dressed in black doeskin breeches, a bottle-green coat with a clerical neck cloth and a jabot beneath a heavy cloak. He was accompanied by a boy…” So starts the book. I really liked that Courtney started each chapter with a pen picture of a scene. This helps bring the reader right into the time and place, and make the book feel much more a novel than a history book or biography. Of course he does go on to give explanations afterwards but the scene has been set for the chapter.
I want more! Beaufort lived to a great age, and had a very full life right through from childhood and did not retire until he was in his eighties. So there is an immense amount to cram into a book on his life. As a result there are some bits that perhaps could be given more depth; we are told Admiral Beaufort was always very proud of is part in ‘Cornwallis Retreat’. Rightly so, as it seems his role was vital as any individual who is not in command of a ship could ever hope to have been. Beaufort was instrumental in a ruse de guerre. But it is covered in only two pages. Perhaps Beaufort’s biggest impact on the war but a brief episode and done. And if you don't think much of the military side you will likely consider that there is too little time spent on the landmark survey Beaufort carried out along the Turkish coast and the exploring ancient ruins. There is just too much to cram into the space provided in the book!
And occasionally I think the balance might be a bit out. Beaufort helped sponsor arctic expeditions, and there is a lot of time spent on Franklin's lost expedition; far more than for many things that Beaufort did in his life despite the lack of a direct involvement. Of course it is a good and interesting story, but it is also well known (if you want to know more how about reading Michael Palin’s Erebus - another excellent read). Most of the other things Beaufort was involved in are equally interesting, but much less well known, so the space could have been better spent. Beaufort is very much an enlightenment man, with a wide range of interests and tinkerings, including for example a kind of semaphore signal system for transmitting messages, and work determining the locations of ancient Greek cities while surveying the Anatolian coast.
All in all an excellent biography that is incredibly well written. This, combined with the wide interests of the subject, make this a book that should appeal to a wide readership.
“On the morning of 17 March 1789, the wind was in the right quarter to carry the Long Ferry from Billingsgate… When she finally tied up at the Three Crowns Causeway, her assorted passengers, mostly sailors and tradesmen leapt onto the dock and were instantly absorbed by the crowded waterside street. Totally out of place among this rough company was a diminutive, though dapper, figure dressed in black doeskin breeches, a bottle-green coat with a clerical neck cloth and a jabot beneath a heavy cloak. He was accompanied by a boy…” So starts the book. I really liked that Courtney started each chapter with a pen picture of a scene. This helps bring the reader right into the time and place, and make the book feel much more a novel than a history book or biography. Of course he does go on to give explanations afterwards but the scene has been set for the chapter.
I want more! Beaufort lived to a great age, and had a very full life right through from childhood and did not retire until he was in his eighties. So there is an immense amount to cram into a book on his life. As a result there are some bits that perhaps could be given more depth; we are told Admiral Beaufort was always very proud of is part in ‘Cornwallis Retreat’. Rightly so, as it seems his role was vital as any individual who is not in command of a ship could ever hope to have been. Beaufort was instrumental in a ruse de guerre. But it is covered in only two pages. Perhaps Beaufort’s biggest impact on the war but a brief episode and done. And if you don't think much of the military side you will likely consider that there is too little time spent on the landmark survey Beaufort carried out along the Turkish coast and the exploring ancient ruins. There is just too much to cram into the space provided in the book!
And occasionally I think the balance might be a bit out. Beaufort helped sponsor arctic expeditions, and there is a lot of time spent on Franklin's lost expedition; far more than for many things that Beaufort did in his life despite the lack of a direct involvement. Of course it is a good and interesting story, but it is also well known (if you want to know more how about reading Michael Palin’s Erebus - another excellent read). Most of the other things Beaufort was involved in are equally interesting, but much less well known, so the space could have been better spent. Beaufort is very much an enlightenment man, with a wide range of interests and tinkerings, including for example a kind of semaphore signal system for transmitting messages, and work determining the locations of ancient Greek cities while surveying the Anatolian coast.
All in all an excellent biography that is incredibly well written. This, combined with the wide interests of the subject, make this a book that should appeal to a wide readership.
May 21, 2017
Good book, a biography of the Irish man who developed the wind force scale named after him
June 13, 2009
I really wouldn't be surprised of Courtney was a bit high by the end of writing this. Let me give some examples from the last chapter:
"Beaufort was no stranger to Buckingham palace--he had once spent the whole of one ball eating ice cream in tent..."
"...in a letter...written in purple ink to match the wonder piece of overblown purple prose..."
"He kept a meticulous weather journal for all his adult life, and during his last years, he also recorded the size, shape, consistency and colour of his stools."
Look, actually, let's just say that Courtney pits in these little glories throughout and it is a great pleasure to read in all seriousness and find yourself laughing at such unexpected humour.
An issue that became increasingly a stone in the shoe (so to speak) was the constant unanticipated jumping about in time. One finds themself (me, late at night, in bed, freezing) going full steam on Beaufort's finicky eye for correctness of surveys in the 1840s when one suddenly realises that the material in front of one is suddenly about some Captain with whom Beaufort was acquainted and a mini-history of his respective exploits from the 1830s to long after Beaufort himself was dead.
Perhaps with greater concentration (constant vigilance) one overcomes these sorts of difficulties.
Oh. Yes. And also about that incest. OUT OF THE BLUE. Thank you, Mr. Nicholas Courtney, for writing like the shadow of an enemy man of war looming out of the mists on to my poor little unprepared sloop of a mind.
"Beaufort was no stranger to Buckingham palace--he had once spent the whole of one ball eating ice cream in tent..."
"...in a letter...written in purple ink to match the wonder piece of overblown purple prose..."
"He kept a meticulous weather journal for all his adult life, and during his last years, he also recorded the size, shape, consistency and colour of his stools."
Look, actually, let's just say that Courtney pits in these little glories throughout and it is a great pleasure to read in all seriousness and find yourself laughing at such unexpected humour.
An issue that became increasingly a stone in the shoe (so to speak) was the constant unanticipated jumping about in time. One finds themself (me, late at night, in bed, freezing) going full steam on Beaufort's finicky eye for correctness of surveys in the 1840s when one suddenly realises that the material in front of one is suddenly about some Captain with whom Beaufort was acquainted and a mini-history of his respective exploits from the 1830s to long after Beaufort himself was dead.
Perhaps with greater concentration (constant vigilance) one overcomes these sorts of difficulties.
Oh. Yes. And also about that incest. OUT OF THE BLUE. Thank you, Mr. Nicholas Courtney, for writing like the shadow of an enemy man of war looming out of the mists on to my poor little unprepared sloop of a mind.
January 30, 2015
Very interesting story of the man who gave us the Beaufort Scale and was the Royal Navy Hydrographer for a quarter century. Jack Aubrey and Dr. Maturin would have known and probably sailed with him.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews