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Nelson's Navy: The Ships, Men and Organization, 1793-1815
First published in 1990, this encyclopedic yet highly readable work gives an indepth description of the Royal Navy in Lord Nelson's time. Filled with over four hundred illustrations, the book is divided into fourteen sections that deal with the design and construction of ships, the navy's administration, and life at sea. Other topics include shiphandling and navigation, gunnery techniques and fighting tactics, and a discussion of foreign navies of the day. Nelson's Navy is an important source book for the naval historian, a valuable reference for the enthusiast, and a revelation to the general reader.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 1989
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About the author
Brian Lavery
69 books25 followersBrian Lavery is a British naval historian, author, and Curator Emeritus at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 30, 2009
Having become enamored of Patrick O'Brian - as must be obvious to everyone by now - I did a search on his name to locate all his other works, In doing so, I stumbled across Nelson's Navy, by Brian Lavery for which O'Brian wrote the foreword. Lavery has written an encyclopedic introduction (if that's not oxymoronic)to life in the British Navy during the time of the Napoleonic Wars. He begins with a summary of the European political context, an understanding of which is essential to grasp the nuances of the O'Brian novels.
Every detail of working a ship, from construction costs and methods to a seaman's necessities to fleet administration and pictures of authentic uniforms is carefully explained. One section I found to be of particular interest was a discussion of "pressing' sailors for the fleet. The press gang myth depicts them descending on a community and dragging off every able-bodied male in sight, sometimes from the loving arms of his wife suckling their latest child. The fact is that by law only seamen could be impressed. Captains
had no wish to populate their ships with unskilled landsmen who didn't know a staysail from the orlop.
Seamen hated the law, however, because it meant that those in the merchant service, where in time of war pay was higher because of the shortage of sailors, could be dragged off to serve his Majesty for less money and with little hope of shore leave. Unlike merchant sailors, who could leave the ship at the end of the voyage, naval sailors were stuck for the duration of the war, which lasted for many years. Naval sailors would be transferred from one ship to another, rarely allowed on shore for fear of desertion. Once pressed
they were quartered on hulks in the harbor until their ship became available.
Ironically, it was the strength of the British Navy that protected the landsman from impressment or draft
into the army, as the navy was so successful defending the shores against invasion. The problem was that impressment (and perhaps the modern draft) was the vestige of a feudal society incompatible with the concept of individual liberty that the American and French revolutions were bringing to the minds of the average individual, who began to look askance at the practice of impressment. Despite attempts to regulate the press gangs, e.g., creating a formal impress Service, abuses occurred frequently among the informal press
gangs sent out by individual ships to fill out their company (a first-rater ship-of-the-line might require 600 men).
For those wanting even more detail on the sociology of Napoleonic era British seamen, I can avidly recommend Michael Lewis's A Social History of the Navy 1793-1815 This is a very readable study of the behavior and conditions on British men-of-war during that time period.
As was typical of the class-conscious society of the time, there were those men of the "quarterdeck" who came from the more privileged class and as gentlemen could become officers; then there were those important workers who inhabited the "lower-deck." These consisted mostly of volunteers, impressed reluctants, and products of the Marine Society (an organization Newt would have been proud of) that took impoverished youth, provided them with food, clothing, and rudimentary naval training before sending them off to sea as servants on board ship. They eventually could work their way up through the ranks of seamen to the quarterdeck. It was possible for a lower deck inhabitant to become an officer (hence entering the upper class as well) by meritorious service in battle or at sea and high marks on the examinations, but it was rare.
Every detail of working a ship, from construction costs and methods to a seaman's necessities to fleet administration and pictures of authentic uniforms is carefully explained. One section I found to be of particular interest was a discussion of "pressing' sailors for the fleet. The press gang myth depicts them descending on a community and dragging off every able-bodied male in sight, sometimes from the loving arms of his wife suckling their latest child. The fact is that by law only seamen could be impressed. Captains
had no wish to populate their ships with unskilled landsmen who didn't know a staysail from the orlop.
Seamen hated the law, however, because it meant that those in the merchant service, where in time of war pay was higher because of the shortage of sailors, could be dragged off to serve his Majesty for less money and with little hope of shore leave. Unlike merchant sailors, who could leave the ship at the end of the voyage, naval sailors were stuck for the duration of the war, which lasted for many years. Naval sailors would be transferred from one ship to another, rarely allowed on shore for fear of desertion. Once pressed
they were quartered on hulks in the harbor until their ship became available.
Ironically, it was the strength of the British Navy that protected the landsman from impressment or draft
into the army, as the navy was so successful defending the shores against invasion. The problem was that impressment (and perhaps the modern draft) was the vestige of a feudal society incompatible with the concept of individual liberty that the American and French revolutions were bringing to the minds of the average individual, who began to look askance at the practice of impressment. Despite attempts to regulate the press gangs, e.g., creating a formal impress Service, abuses occurred frequently among the informal press
gangs sent out by individual ships to fill out their company (a first-rater ship-of-the-line might require 600 men).
For those wanting even more detail on the sociology of Napoleonic era British seamen, I can avidly recommend Michael Lewis's A Social History of the Navy 1793-1815 This is a very readable study of the behavior and conditions on British men-of-war during that time period.
As was typical of the class-conscious society of the time, there were those men of the "quarterdeck" who came from the more privileged class and as gentlemen could become officers; then there were those important workers who inhabited the "lower-deck." These consisted mostly of volunteers, impressed reluctants, and products of the Marine Society (an organization Newt would have been proud of) that took impoverished youth, provided them with food, clothing, and rudimentary naval training before sending them off to sea as servants on board ship. They eventually could work their way up through the ranks of seamen to the quarterdeck. It was possible for a lower deck inhabitant to become an officer (hence entering the upper class as well) by meritorious service in battle or at sea and high marks on the examinations, but it was rare.
May 27, 2012
This is an amazing reference book, which comes as close to being a complete guide to the Navy of this era as one could expect a single volume to be.
Want to know what a particular sort of ship looked like? There are drawings. Want to know the names of all the sails? There's a drawing. Want to know what everyone was paid? Check. How they were recruited? Check. How they were promoted? Check. What arrangements were made for their food and drink? Yes, that's all in there too. How to actually sail a ship? Yes, it's described in some detail. So if you want to know what 'wear the ship' actually means, it's all spelled out.
There's even summary information about other countries navies - France, USA, Spain, etc. OK, not in such detail but enough to give you a broad idea of the difference in their set-up.
I should warn that there is some technical language, and you may find this confusing if you're not a patient reader. But when the subject is inevitably full of technical language and jargon I don't see how this could be avoided, and the terms are generally explained.
Highly recommended. I have two vague ambitions in this area. One to build a wooden model of a fully rigged frigate, another to write a novel about a naval officer of this era. Don't honestly know if I'll ever get around to either, but this book would be a great assistance to either project.
Final note (or gloat). This book was published at £35, but my second-hand copy, in A1 condition was £12. Incredible value for money.
Want to know what a particular sort of ship looked like? There are drawings. Want to know the names of all the sails? There's a drawing. Want to know what everyone was paid? Check. How they were recruited? Check. How they were promoted? Check. What arrangements were made for their food and drink? Yes, that's all in there too. How to actually sail a ship? Yes, it's described in some detail. So if you want to know what 'wear the ship' actually means, it's all spelled out.
There's even summary information about other countries navies - France, USA, Spain, etc. OK, not in such detail but enough to give you a broad idea of the difference in their set-up.
I should warn that there is some technical language, and you may find this confusing if you're not a patient reader. But when the subject is inevitably full of technical language and jargon I don't see how this could be avoided, and the terms are generally explained.
Highly recommended. I have two vague ambitions in this area. One to build a wooden model of a fully rigged frigate, another to write a novel about a naval officer of this era. Don't honestly know if I'll ever get around to either, but this book would be a great assistance to either project.
Final note (or gloat). This book was published at £35, but my second-hand copy, in A1 condition was £12. Incredible value for money.
November 9, 2012
This is an excellent guide to the Royal Navy of the 18th and 19th centuries. It includes highly technical information of interest to seasoned sailors, as well as basic facts helpful to a non-nautical person. Filled with archival illustrations and documents and lots of citations from period sources, it's a fascinating read. My interest in the Navy is mostly social rather than technical. A chapter called "The Ship's Day" was particularly interesting, describing a full day aboard a man o' war. There are also chapters on the officers and men, their equipment and uniforms, naval tactics, shipbuilding, and everything else you need to know to be a jolly tar.
The author is especially insightful about the success of the Royal Navy, which he directly attributes to the characteristics of the British sailors. Unlike the personnel of most navies, the British sailor was eager for battle and disliked inaction. Although a great proportion of the men were pressed into service and often kept aboard ship for years without shore leave, they nonetheless performed admirably under difficult circumstances. To put it simply, the British sailor was courageous and highly professional, taking a great deal of pride in his skills. This book also sets to right some common misconceptions - that sailors were intentionally fed spoiled or inadequate food, that they were frequently flogged, and that the press was a barbaric means of recruitment. Naval food was better than most of the lower decks would be able to acquire on shore. This was an era in which the poor did not eat meat regularly, and many unfortunate people lived on bread, porridge, and tea. The naval diet of salt beef, peas, hard tack, grog, and fresh lemon or lime juice was generous by the standards of the poor of the era. It was a time during which common criminals were often flogged or held in pillory, and corporal punishment was standard. Flogging was not as abhorrent to the men as it is to modern sensibility. It was usually reserved for actions that put the entire ship at risk, such as falling asleep on a watch. Surprisingly, sailors did not resent flogging nor impressment, even as they tried to avoid it, but they understood the necessity of these harsh measures in times of war. In fact impressment is no different from French conscription or even the American draft of the Vietnam war, except that impressment targeted only skilled sailors. It was reckoned that it took two years to transform a landsman into an ordinary seamen, and during the Napoleonic Wars, when the fate of Europe rested on England's resistance, impressment was a necessary means of recruitment.
The amazing thing is that, despite impressment, flogging, difficult living conditions, long years away from home, and a system of patronage that, while not as outrightly unfair as the army, in which commissions were purchased, still favored the wealthy and well-connected, most of the officers were capable and treated the men fairly. There was no way to buy a passing lieutenant's exam, and once promoted to captain, subsequent promotions were strictly by seniority. Harsh living conditions, few comforts, and frequent life-threatening circumstances did not prevent the British sailor from doing his job exceptionally well. And the British public was grateful. At no time in history has the sea-officer had such prestige, and even common sailors were esteemed as patriots and their service was regarded with gratitude. It is the character of the British sailor rather than any particular technology that allowed England to dominate the seas and to prevent the land-grabbing Napoleon from storming the very cliffs of Dover.
My only quibble with this book is that it is so large, as it's a large coffee table book, which makes it a bit hard to read in bed, but it's well worth the extra physical effort of holding up this book.
The author is especially insightful about the success of the Royal Navy, which he directly attributes to the characteristics of the British sailors. Unlike the personnel of most navies, the British sailor was eager for battle and disliked inaction. Although a great proportion of the men were pressed into service and often kept aboard ship for years without shore leave, they nonetheless performed admirably under difficult circumstances. To put it simply, the British sailor was courageous and highly professional, taking a great deal of pride in his skills. This book also sets to right some common misconceptions - that sailors were intentionally fed spoiled or inadequate food, that they were frequently flogged, and that the press was a barbaric means of recruitment. Naval food was better than most of the lower decks would be able to acquire on shore. This was an era in which the poor did not eat meat regularly, and many unfortunate people lived on bread, porridge, and tea. The naval diet of salt beef, peas, hard tack, grog, and fresh lemon or lime juice was generous by the standards of the poor of the era. It was a time during which common criminals were often flogged or held in pillory, and corporal punishment was standard. Flogging was not as abhorrent to the men as it is to modern sensibility. It was usually reserved for actions that put the entire ship at risk, such as falling asleep on a watch. Surprisingly, sailors did not resent flogging nor impressment, even as they tried to avoid it, but they understood the necessity of these harsh measures in times of war. In fact impressment is no different from French conscription or even the American draft of the Vietnam war, except that impressment targeted only skilled sailors. It was reckoned that it took two years to transform a landsman into an ordinary seamen, and during the Napoleonic Wars, when the fate of Europe rested on England's resistance, impressment was a necessary means of recruitment.
The amazing thing is that, despite impressment, flogging, difficult living conditions, long years away from home, and a system of patronage that, while not as outrightly unfair as the army, in which commissions were purchased, still favored the wealthy and well-connected, most of the officers were capable and treated the men fairly. There was no way to buy a passing lieutenant's exam, and once promoted to captain, subsequent promotions were strictly by seniority. Harsh living conditions, few comforts, and frequent life-threatening circumstances did not prevent the British sailor from doing his job exceptionally well. And the British public was grateful. At no time in history has the sea-officer had such prestige, and even common sailors were esteemed as patriots and their service was regarded with gratitude. It is the character of the British sailor rather than any particular technology that allowed England to dominate the seas and to prevent the land-grabbing Napoleon from storming the very cliffs of Dover.
My only quibble with this book is that it is so large, as it's a large coffee table book, which makes it a bit hard to read in bed, but it's well worth the extra physical effort of holding up this book.
December 12, 2022
A must read for anyone interested in all aspects Nelson's Navy. Great details and illustrations about the lives of seamen and officers. This book collected the information I hunted for among many other sources. Great thanks to Mr. Lavery.
May 14, 2017
An incredibly detailed and well organised reference book. Highly recommended to anyone with a passing interest in this period of naval activity.
August 27, 2020
The perfect coffee table book for mariners.
July 1, 2012
First things first: I greatly enjoyed reading this book. BUT, once again, I'd like to have a word with whoever edited it. Occasionally there's really annoying spelling mistakes, left out letters or words, and even words, small factual mistakes, like one paragraph confusing squadrons and divisions (but using them right in the rest of the book) or writing "more" at one point when they clearly meant "less" -- and these are just the mistakes that I - as a complete Noob - could spot.
Since I bought a used copy at reduced price there might be a newer edition out that found fixed all the mistakes, but it's still rather sobering and disappointing to come accrose these issues in what's otherwise a good book. Apart from the text, easy to follow for a Noob like me, it's full of useful charts and diagrams (even though the resolution/size of some of those could be better, i.e. bigger). I feel much better prepared now to dive into more accounts of the time period, be they non-fiction or fiction, and that is afterall why I started reading this book in the first place. Therefore I heartily agree with all the reviews claiming Lavery's "Nelson's Navy" to be a great starting place before losing yourself in more detailed sources.
Since I bought a used copy at reduced price there might be a newer edition out that found fixed all the mistakes, but it's still rather sobering and disappointing to come accrose these issues in what's otherwise a good book. Apart from the text, easy to follow for a Noob like me, it's full of useful charts and diagrams (even though the resolution/size of some of those could be better, i.e. bigger). I feel much better prepared now to dive into more accounts of the time period, be they non-fiction or fiction, and that is afterall why I started reading this book in the first place. Therefore I heartily agree with all the reviews claiming Lavery's "Nelson's Navy" to be a great starting place before losing yourself in more detailed sources.
August 13, 2018
I’ve read a number of nonfiction books lately on the Royal Navy during the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars, and this is far and away the best of them -- no comparison, not even Lavery’s own Jack Aubrey Commands (2003), which is in many ways merely a cut-down version of this encyclopedic volume. This is 350 pages of highly detailed, heavily illustrated discussion of every conceivable subject and all its subtopics, from the engineering principles of ship design and the differences among each of the different rates, to the divisional organization of the Royal Marines, to the truth (with statistics) behind the press gang system, to a disquisition on the differences in naval fighting tactics between the British and French and Spanish fleets -- and a great deal more. And there are even graphs, flow charts, and organization tables to bring disparate information together. It’s actually a very slow read because there’s so much to absorb, even for the experienced fan of Forester and O’Brian -- but that’s certainly not a criticism! I’ll be referring back to this gorgeous, oversized book for many years to come.
September 22, 2014
I really like Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey/Maturin series of novels (which the movie "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World" drew from). I'm currently reading these novels for a second time, and I found this to be an excellent reference to accompany me on the journey. It's a coffee table sized book that has a little bit to say about nearly every aspect of the British Navy during the Napoleonic era. Because of the breadth of the topics covered, it doesn't go particularly deeply into any one of them -- each would require a book, but in my case, this breadth is what I needed. This covers the historical background, the politics, the organizational structure, the ships, the seamen, and the minutiae of their daily lives. The ship cross-sections and deck layouts are particularly useful.
My only complaint is that the some of the illustrations and figures are hard to read, being reproduced quite small, and I've been using my OED magnifying glass to make out the words.
My only complaint is that the some of the illustrations and figures are hard to read, being reproduced quite small, and I've been using my OED magnifying glass to make out the words.
February 2, 2008
A wonderful basic overview of the navy- its ships and men in the time of Nelson. Recommend it as a dip in book and a reasonable starting point if you're interested in researching the era.
January 7, 2009
An essential reference, whether you are a nut for historic naval fiction like O'Brian and Forester, or a nut for nautical things in general. I am both, so I really like this book (to put it mildly).
September 16, 2011
Fantastic-- a model of a book. It gives so much fascinating background information for naval aspects of the period.
February 27, 2013
Indispensable guide to the Age of Fighting Sail, the era in which I set my Thomas Kydd novels. Delighted to see an updated version has recently come out.
September 29, 2013
Good book of the British Navy
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews