When one thinks of Britain’s annus mirabilis 1759 the first events that come to mind are Hawke’s naval triumph at Quiberon Bay and Wolfe’s capture of Quebec. There was however that very same year another crucial but less known British victory which preceded these two battles: the defeat of the French Mediterranean Fleet at the hands of admiral Sir Edward Boscawen. It is usually treated by historians merely as a precursor to the Battle of Quiberon Bay and rarely written about in its one right. This article will try to set the record straight and will succinctly discuss this often forgotten pivotal moment in the Seven Years War (1756-1763).

HMS Bellerophon was a third-rate ship of the line of 74 guns that saw extensive service during Britain’s wars against France between 1793 and 1815. She was involved in three major naval engagements, including Nelson’s victories at the Nile and Trafalgar. Thus, the “Billy Ruffian,” as she was commonly called by her crew, was closely intertwined with Lord Nelson’s success and, consequently, Britain’s fate to become the most powerful naval power in history.

Naval warfare in the age of sail was a ghastly business. As soon as the guns started roaring, the screaming of the wounded and the moaning of the dying would repeatably interrupt the deafening sound of the broadsides. As the battle developed and the smell of blood started mingling with the sharp stench of burning gunpowder, the unlucky stricken sailors were carried below-decks to be cared for by the surgeon. This article will succinctly discuss the perils of naval battles in the late 18th and early 19th century, as well as the efforts of the surgeon to help the victims of an engagement at sea. 

Some 821 men lived and worked aboard a first-rate ship of the line, such as HMS Victory. These ships needed to be kept in good condition at all times. Every sailor received a fixed amount of food rations daily. However, this is only part of the story. As we all know, after the intake of food comes the need to visit the toilet. How did this happen aboard a ship of the line in the 18th century? Where did the sailors go to do their business?

In this painting we see the illustrious commander Cochrane defeating the much larger 32-gun Spanish frigate El Gamo in his small brig HMS Speedy in 1801 of 14 guns. This David VS Goliath story needs no introduction. But what exactly was a brig, the classification of ship to which Speedy and countless other ships of the Royal Navy belonged? Everyone has heard of this name, but what does it exactly mean? 

Deptford, often referred to as the "Cradle of the Navy" or simply the "King’s Yard," occupies a special place in the story of Britain’s maritime legacy.

On 6 May 1801, a naval engagement occurred between the 14-gun brig HMS Speedy, commanded by Lord Cochrane, and the much larger 32-gun Spanish xebec-frigate El Gamo, commanded by Don Francisco de Torres. Despite El Gamo being four times the size of Speedy, with more than seven times its firepower and six times its crew, Cochrane achieved a feat that secured his place in the annals of naval history as one of the boldest commanders the seas had ever known: he captured the Spanish vessel through daring and cunning.

"The Resolution and Discovery arrived off Sheerness on October 4, 1780. Their return home was met with mixed emotions. While many rejoiced at the safe return of their loved ones, the nation mourned the loss of one of the greatest explorers it had ever produced."

"Smith’s actions resulted in the burning of nine French ships of the line. In total, the Republicans lost around 58 warships, both large and small, on that day. This made December 18th arguably the most destructive day in French naval history since Quiberon Bay."

Midshipmen, typically aged between 15 and 22, were the future officers of the Royal Navy. Upon them depended the future of the navy and their country.