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The captain's role on a sinking ship
Every maritime nation can tell of captains who stayed with their ships until the last moment, and sometimes beyond.
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Life at a Royal Naval Dockyard
Royal Naval Dockyards were used to build navy ships during the 17th and 18th centuries. The Navy Board was responsible for running them.
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Colours on naval uniform
The Royal Navy introduced coloured cloth on to their uniforms in 1863, so that it was possible to distinguish between naval departments.
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Rated Navy ships in the 17th to 19th centuries
The rating system of the British Royal Navy was used to categorise warships between the 17th and 19th centuries. There were six rates of warship.
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Royal Naval Dockyards
In the 17th and 18th centuries there were six Royal Navy Dockyards in England, at Deptford, Woolwich, Chatham, Sheerness, Portsmouth and Plymouth
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The first naval Victoria Cross
The first naval Victoria Cross was awarded to Charles Lucas while serving as a Mate on HMS Hecla in 1854 during the Crimean War.
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The Stuart navy
There was no full-time navy when James I (VI of Scotland) and Charles I were on the throne. This left the British coastline vulnerable to attack.