Wallin, Christinna Beeken

This master thesis in history uses the methods from social-historic research, to study and learn how the organizational challenges of the Royal British Navy, influenced the lives of the seamen who served it.The scene and frame for this research are the two ships of the line HMS St. George and HMS Defence, which sank on the 24th of December 1811 killing over 1400 men, women and children. Fortunately a large number of documents and letters were salvaged from the wrecks, and can now give a wonderful look inside the everyday life on board these to ships as well as several other ships belonging to the same fleet.Through a study of these documents it has been possible to discuss four different aspects of the seamen’s everyday life: The food and messes, sickness and death, discipline and punishment and alcohol. And when comparing these findings with already available research on the British Navy in general, it has been possible to find several instances where the Baltic fleet has varied from the main fleet.Finally this paper will discuss how alcohol in particular had a great influence on both the men’s health as well as the discipline. Which is interesting considering the quite large portions of beer, wine and liquor the Royal British Fleet served to the men each and every day. Which leads to also answering the question of whether it was true that - a drop of Nelson’s blood didn’t do them any harm

A drop of Nelson's blood wouldn't do us any harm - Life aboard the British ships of the line in the early 1800

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Roskilde Universitet