Midshipmen and quarterdeck boys in the British Navy, 1771-1831

Midshipmen and quarterdeck boys in the British Navy, 1771-1831

Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK ; Rochester, NY : Boydell Press, 2012.

x, 245 p. : ill. ; 25 cm.

359.3320941 C378 2012

(OCoLC)801029912

Examines the social background of around 4,000 "young gentlemen" a term which includes midshipmen and various other categories, including captains' servants, volunteers and masters' mates. It concludes that high birth became an increasingly important factor in the selection of officer candidates, and that as the Admiralty grip on the appointment and management of officer aspirants increased, especially after 1815, aristocratic presence in the ranks of young officers increased significantly as a result of deliberate Admiralty policy. The book also discusses the assertion that the increase in elite sons led to a dramatic increase in cases of indiscipline and insubordination, concluding that although there was a marked increase in courts martial for insubordination during and after the French Wars there is no evidence that such cases related more to the elites than to young aspirants in general--back cover.
Includes bibliographical references (p.223-235) and index.
L2013M100

Library Catalog > Monographs > Modern books
All Cataloged Material
All records