A sailor's life

A lieutenant had to be at least 20 with six years at sea. All vessels had a least one and some as many as six.He may be put in command of a smaller vessel. All appointments of lieutenant and above were made by the Admiralty. Unless well connected or distinguished in action a lieutenant could remain his rank for his entire career.

Annual salary: £100

Marine

Marines usually made up 20 percent of the total crew. Their role was to act as snipers, participate in board parties and shore operations and be a deterrent against mutinies. Marines were loooked upon as as lazy and therefore scorned by the rest of the crew.

Powder monkey

Boys went to sea as young as eight to become midshipmen or perform other meanial ship duties. Young boys were subject to bullying and pranks. During battle powder monkeys carried powder cartridges to gum batteries.

Midshipman

By age 15 a boy could become a midshipman. He was expected to learn the workings of the ship and take command when a lieutenant was not available. Some spent 30 years at this position.

Women

Women on board a man-of-war was quite common. Most were wives of officers and NCOs. Military units of the time were usually alotted some many women as cooks and laundresses. (a company of marines was alotted five women.) When hostilities broke out they were usually draft by the surgeon. Women were present at every major naval engegement of the time.

The captain

Annual salary: £400

The captain was either a benevolent dictator or the cruelest of masters. His word was final in running the ship and disciplining it's crew. They were expected to finance each voyages with their own money (Expense that were later re-embursed by the Admiralty). These included enlistment bonuses. A captain was expected to purchase his own uniforms, weapons and any luxuries his crew might receive. The position of captain was looked upon with admiration in 18th century England.

Capt. Jack Aubrey

Russell Crowe

The rank of master and commander was a position between lieutenant and captain given to those commanding smaller vessels. Although not captains they were address as captain.

The ships

Ships in the Royal Navy (Beelzebub's grand arsenal) were classified into six categories. The largest, like the HMS Victory, Nelson's flags ship. It boasted over 100 cannon and 875 men. The smallest, a 125-foot sloop, was armed with 24 guns and 150 crew members.

Year

1793 15,000 men

1813 150,000 men

Note: Population of England in the late 18th century was 10 million.

The head or toilet was an open area located at the bow of the ship. Holes with seats depositted waste directly into the ocean.