Tag Archives: The Breeze at Spithead
The Gale at The Nore. Part 4. Negotiation
(20-29 May). Period of negotiation. Ends with return of 3 lords of the Admiralty to London who had been negotiating. Continue reading
Filed under Mutiny, Naval Life
The Gale At The Nore. Part 1. Prelude.
Like the mutiny at Spithead, the Nore mutiny was born of anger and frustration on the part of the common sailor. There were significant differences in the make up of the fleets at those two locations. That in turn led … Continue reading
Filed under Age of Sail, Mutiny
Admiral Adam Duncan, 1st Viscount Duncan
One of the crucial figures in British naval history at the time of the mutinies at Spithead and The Nore was Admiral Adam Duncan. Often history has a way of inserting the right man at the right place at the … Continue reading
Filed under Age of Sail, Naval Biography
The Breeze at Spithead Becomes The Gale at The Nore
If you were an observer at the gala celebrating the end to the Spithead mutiny you might have noticed this scene: At about eight the high and mighty were ready, and all made for the Ally Port once more, near … Continue reading
Filed under Age of Sail, Mutiny
The Breeze at Spithead. Part 10. Investigation and Lessons Learned.
One of the bugbears afflicting the British government during the Spithead mutiny was the notion that the mutiny was actually operating under the control of either the French revolutionary regime, the United Irishmen, or some similar seditious element. The idea … Continue reading
Filed under Age of Sail, Culture and Life Style Ashore, Mutiny
The Breeze At Spithead. Part 9. The Grand Finale.
Now the dalliance of Parliament and the blinding stupidity of the Admiralty combined into what was a potentially deadly set of circumstances. Bridport had heard French fleet was out on May 3, but the winds were not favorable for the … Continue reading
Filed under Age of Sail, Mutiny
The Breeze at Spithead. Part 8. The Second Spithead Mutiny.
When faced with the resolve of the Fleet, Spencer folded like a cheap suit. He arrived in London at 9 am on April 22 and by 5 pm he had hammered out an agreement to meet the terms of the … Continue reading
Filed under Age of Sail, Mutiny, Naval Life
The Breeze at Spithead. Part 7. The Ante Is Raised
The Spithead Mutiny demonstrated a high level of centralized planning, iron discipline, and a shrewd understanding of the British public. By keeping their demands small, e.g. a pay raise after 150 years without one, a chance to go ashore, better … Continue reading
Filed under Age of Sail, Mutiny, Naval Life
The Breeze at Spithead. Part 6.
The Admiralty and the fleet delegates were now at a standoff. The delegates had presented a very respectful petition which had initially been ignored. When the Admiralty got around to addressing the petition they essentially ignored it. Now the delegates … Continue reading
Filed under Age of Sail, Mutiny, Naval Life
The Breeze at Spithead, Part 5.
Shortly after the men of HMS Queen Charlotte manned the shrouds with the cheer that set off the Spithead Mutiny, the leaders from that ship set out in a boat to visit all the ships in the Channel Fleet. At … Continue reading
Filed under Age of Sail, Mutiny, Naval Life
