From Boys To Men: A Seafaring Life

By Emilia Stratford, author of Such Persuasions As These

It was a truth universally acknowledged that the second or third son of a genteel—but not necessarily prosperous—Regency-era family inevitably faced a decision: Would he become a lawyer, a clergyman, a politician, or a soldier? If that young man is Frederick Wentworth, brother-in-law to an influential Naval captain on the path to the admiralty, he might make a different choice altogether.

He might choose to become a sailor.

Unlike his landlubber younger-son counterparts, who began their studies between the ages of sixteen and eighteen, an adventurous spirit—or other necessity—would lead this boy towards his destiny much earlier in life. Indeed, some children were sent to serve on board ships as King’s Letter Boys or master’s mates as early as age six, though most began their careers closer to twelve.

Why would a family choose to send such a young child off to parts unknown, not to be heard from for months at a time? The reasons varied. Some saw life onboard a Naval vessel as a guaranteed home and full belly for their sons—something their parents did not feel they could provide. Some, like the Musgroves of Persuasion, saw the sea as an opportunity for their otherwise worthless scions to make something of themselves. Many boys had no family at all, being called to the profession from the mean streets of London by charitable institutions such as the aptly named Society for Contributing Towards a Supply of Two or Three Thousand Mariners for the Navy.

For others, however, it was in their blood.

Given young Wentworth’s meteoric rise to Master and Commander of his own ship as such a young man, it is likely he boarded his first vessel before he hit his teens. You see, before one could command one’s own ship, one must become a lieutenant, and before one can even sit for his lieutenant’s exam, one must accrue six years of time at sea, often as a midshipman, literally ‘learning the ropes’. Indeed, most young men who entered the Navy so young, especially those of genteel birth or with advantageous connections, did so with a view to attaining commissioned rank.

With such patronage as Captain Croft, Frederick may have even been entered onto the ship’s books at a much younger age, though his time at sea would not start until his early teens. This ‘false muster’, as it was called, was considered the appropriate thing to do for those in your favor, even though it was technically illegal and outwardly frowned upon.

I like to imagine, however, that Frederick began his naval career and begat his advancement mostly on his own merit, serving under his reasonable, responsible, and much older brother-in-law Captain Croft while just a lad. With the loving care of his sister and exceptional training from her husband, young Wentworth would have thrived at sea. The ship would have been his classroom, his fellow mates his mentors and schoolfellows, and his captain his instructor.

He would have used his time as midshipman, not only to swab decks and keep watch over his assigned division, but also to study the finer points of sailing and navigation. In order to pass his lieutenancy exam, he would be expected to understand mathematics, astronomy, gunnery, and rigging. He would also need to demonstrate competence in the use of instruments of the trade, such as sextants, chronometers, nautical charts, and lead lines.

Only after passing this exam and being commissioned onto a naval ship would our dear Freddie have made it into the revered Navy Lists. These were published by the admiralty—quarterly during peace time and monthly during war time—and served to illuminate Britain’s naval administration, career advancement, and fleet structure. Navy Lists detailed the commissioned officers, including rank, seniority, ship names, and stations. Officer Rolls listed flag officers, captains, lieutenants, and below, arranged by seniority, and Ship Listings would have revealed the number of assigned officers per vessel. These would have served to maintain administrative transparency and operational control.

While the officers themselves would have valued these publications in their capacity as official records of promotions, pay, and appointments, the youngest ladies of Longbourn in Such Persuasions as These see them more as a catalogue of valiant men of the highest honor, imaginary beaux who await only their fortunes and promotions to race back to land and sweep them off their feet. One thing the Navy Lists did not tell the public was how many prizes any given officer had taken.

Speaking of prize money, it has been conjectured that our dear Commander Wentworth would not have been able to take prizes from his first vessel, as it was only a sloop, and a rickety one at that. However, my research shows that, for its small size, a quick little brig sloop such as The Asp, having 10-18 guns (the highest ratio of firepower to tonnage of any ships in the Royal Navy), may have been quite effective at stopping enemy merchant ships of similar size and seizing its precious cargo. Wentworth himself professed to having made “a few thousand pounds” on the Asp in the two years before he was posted to the Laconia.

This would not have been as profitable as a frigate, however, as a brig sloop’s range was rather limited, and Commander Wentworth would have neither the manpower nor the firepower to take on any large vessels, thus limiting the booty he and his crew might share with the admiralty. No wonder, upon mentioning his beloved Laconia, Wentworth carolled, “Ah! those were pleasant days when I had the Laconia! How fast I made money in her...”

Ms Stratford, you are thinking, why do you continue to call him Commander Wentworth? We all know he was a captain.

Interestingly, Ms Austen tells us that Frederick Wentworth was not, in fact, a captain when he first engaged himself to Anne Elliot, even though he was soon thereafter given command of The Asp. Indeed, he did not attain to the rank of captain until 1808.

Captain Frederick Wentworth…who being made commander in consequence of the action off St Domingo, and not immediately employed, had come into Somersetshire, in the summer of 1806.

You see, it was common practice at the time to call ‘Captain’ any man who had command of his own ship, whether he was a true post-captain or not. Everyone on his crew would have viewed him as the captain, and even civilians in his circle would have dubbed him as such. However, the courtesy title did not come with the raise in pay or prestige a true British Navy captain would receive. A commander was one level above a lieutenant and one level below a post-captain and was restricted to small ships with small crews. One did not attain the rank of captain until he had made post, at which point he could be assigned to top-rated vessels and really start raking it in. More men and more guns meant more prizes.

This is how it happened for Frederick Wentworth, who, in 1808, was posted to the Laconia as a true naval captain who could engage in great battles, capture much precious cargo, and look forward to attaining the rank of admiral given that he lived long enough—and other admirals had the courtesy to retire, resign, or die in good time.

 Alas, in 1814, when we meet Frederick Wentworth again, he still has a long life of service ahead of him before he receives that coveted position. However, with a worthy woman by his side and a loyal crew under him, Ms Austen makes it clear that he has every chance of felicity as he continues his life of adventure on the high seas.

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References

Persuasion, Jane Austen

Gentlemen of Uncertain Fortune: How Younger Sons Made Their Way in Jane Austen's England, Rory Muir, Yale University Press, 2019

Boy Sailors During the Age of Nelson and Napoleon, M.M. Bennetts, English Historical Fiction Authors Blog, 2013

Wikipedia

Illustrations (all public domain)

Costumes of Great Britain No 3. Post-captain, J.A. Atkinson, 1807

Henry William Baynton, age 13, Thomas Hickey, 1780

Admiral Croft, C.E. Brock Illustration for Persuasion

Capture of the Spanish xebec frigate El Gamo in 1801 off HMS Speedy commanded by Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald, Clarkson Frederick Stanfield 1840

BBC