Throughout history, the world of sailing has been a great inspiration for culture and language. You may not know it, but there are plenty of commonly used phrases whose origins are nautical, and you probably use them every day. Today, we’ll take a look at some of the phrases that began at sea and have now become part of our everyday vocabulary. By and Large Meaning: generally speaking; on the whole. The words ‘by’ and
Category: Blog
Most Powerful Navies From Around the World
We’ve been getting to grips with the history of our Royal Navy in recent blog posts, but what we are yet to discuss is the might of other Navies around the globe. At one time, the British Navy was the most powerful force in the world, and the envy of other world leaders, but we have since slipped down the list as other nations have built and developed their naval forces. USA The US Navy
The Evolution of the Navy – Part Five
In part four of our evolution of navy series, we left off as the English Civil War ended in the defeat of the monarchy and the Commonwealth of England began. In today’s post, we’ll take a look at how the Navy was affected by this tumultuous period of time. Oliver Cromwell was an authoritarian, thought of as a dictator. However, he was also very talented, with a keen mind for military tactics. As Lord Protector
Superstitious Sailors
Historically, men of the sea are known to be a pretty superstitious lot, and it’s no surprise when you consider that sea faring is one of the oldest careers. The unpredictable and uncontrollable nature of the sea has led many sailors to turn to a little superstition in an attempt to ensure they did not fall victim to the sometimes cruel, dark depths of the ocean. Banana Ban In the 18th century, at the height
Famous Ships in History: HMS Warspite
In our latest instalment of our famous ships series, we looked at the Japanese battleship, Yamato,which was a huge part of the Japanese war effort on the seas during WWII. Today, we shall look at a British ship that served during both world wars over her 30-year career. HMS Warspitewas one of five Queen Elizabeth-class battleships; a class of ship that was championed by Sir Winston Churchill, who was then First Lord of the Admiralty.
Top Boat-Based Attractions
As you may have noticed from our long-running series on the evolution of the Navy, our little island has a historic love affair with boats, ships and the sea. For this reason, our country is a rich source of visitor attractions that display the hundreds of years of naval history. Portsmouth Historic Dockyard – Portsmouth The dockyard is filled to the brim with exciting things to do and see. You can wander round the museum dedicated
The Evolution of the Navy – Part Four
Last time, we left off at the end of the Spanish Armada during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. The English Navy was advancing, and the future looking bright. In this instalment, we shall look at the end of the Tudor period, and journey on into the Stuart period and how this tumultuous time effected what we now know as the Royal Navy. We shall begin as James I took the throne of England, proclaiming himself
Sailor Profile: Sir Robin Knox-Johnston
So we’re covering some of the most famous ships from history, but what about their sailors? These sea-faring folk often get overlooked when thinking about our history, so that’s why we’re going to give some time to educating you on a few of the most talented, dedicated sailors that ever walked the earth – or more appropriately, sailed the seas! Sir Robin Knox-Johnston was born 17th March 1939 in London and was the eldest of
Famous Ships in History: Yamato
In this post, we will be revisiting the most famous ships in history series with the Japanese battleship Yamato. Previous parts of this interesting series are the H.L. Hunley and the Santa Maria. During the Second World War, a major part of Japan’s fights were in the Pacific Ocean, in which their biggest rivals were the United States. The U.S. Navy greatly outnumbered Japan’s fleet, and the Yamato and one other battleship were designed to
The Evolution of the Navy – Part Three
In part two of our running series, we looked at the role that King Henry VIII played in developing our naval defences, and how he became known as the Father of the English Navy. Today, we shall unfold the next part of the story and discover what happened after the death of the King in 1547. In the 11 years following the death of Henry VIII, England saw three monarchs come and go –