The Naval Mutinies of 1797: Unity and Perseverance
Author(s): Ann Coats (Editor, Contributor), Philip MacDougall (Editor, Contributor), Brian Lavery (Contributor), Christopher Doorne (Contributor), David W. London (Contributor), Jonathan Neale (Contributor), Kathrin Orth (Contributor), Nick Slope Commissioning Editor (Contributor), Roger Morriss (Contributor)
Publisher: Boydell Press
Publication Date: 17 Nov. 2011
Edition: Illustrated
Language: English
Print length: 336 pages
ISBN-10: 1843836696
ISBN-13: 9781843836698
Book Description
A reassessment of the naval mutinies of 1797, arguing that the mutinies were more industrial dispute than expression of French revolution inspired political radicalism. The naval mutinies of 1797 were unprecedented in scale and impressive in their level of organisation. Under threat of French invasion, crews in the Royal Navy’s home fleet, after making clear demands, refused to sail until their demands were met. Subsequent mutinies affected the crews of more than one hundred ships in at least five home anchorages, replicated in the Mediterranean, Atlantic and Indian Ocean. Channel Fleet seamen pursued their grievances of pay and conditions by traditional petitions to their commanding officer, Admiral Richard Howe, but his flawed comprehension and communications were further exacerbated by the Admiralty. The Spithead mutiny became the seamen’slast resort. Ironically Howe acknowledged the justice of their position and was instrumental in resolving the Spithead mutiny, but this did not prevent occurrences at the Nore and elsewhere. The most extensive approach sinceConrad Gill’s seminal and eponymous volume of 1913, The Naval Mutinies of 1797 focuses on new research, re-evaluating the causes, events, interpretations, discipline, relationships between officers and men, political inputs and affiliations and crucially, the rôle of the Irish and quota men. It poses new answers to old questions and suggests a new synthesis – self-determination – the seamen on their own terms. ANN VERONICA COATS is senior lecturer in the the School of Civil Engineering and Surveying at the University of Portsmouth and is Secretary of the Naval Dockyards Society. PHILIP MACDOUGALL is a writer and historian, author of seven books, with a doctorateon naval history from the University of Kent at Canterbury.
Editorial Reviews
Review
In addition to its insightful and innovative research, this is a beautifully designed and illustrated volume. ― INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MARITIME HISTORY
This volume delves into all aspects of the mutinies, from a variety of perspectives, and answers a host of questions while proposing new avenues for research or where further study is needed.
The Naval Mutinies of 1797 is recommended for any student of the Royal Navy and for libraries with a particular interest in naval history. ― PIRATES & PRIVATEERS
A handsome volume which advances our knowledge of the subject further and faster than it has moved in the whole of the past century. […] In short, this important collection establishes the central importance of the 1797 naval mutinies and establishes the basic facts about them. — N. A. M. Rodger ―
ENGLISH HISTORICAL REVIEW
No-one interested in the navy in this ‘classical’ period should overlook this fascinating and well-produced book. ―
NAVY NEWS
About the Author
Philip MacDougall was formerly a Lecturer in the Department of Economic History at the University of Kent. He is the author and editor of several books on maritime history, including The Naval Mutinies of 1797 (Boydell, 2011), Naval Resistance to Britain’s Growing Power in India, 1660-1800 (Boydell, 2014) and Islamic Seapower during the Age of Fighting Sail (Boydell, 2017).
ROGER MORRISS was a curator at the National Maritime Museum in London,1979-1995, then taught at the University of Exeter and at the Greenwich Maritime Institute, 1997-2018. Between 2000 and 2013 he was General Editor of the Navy Records Society and has himself published ten books on naval history.
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