Julian Stockwin - Caribbee

scow

derogatory term for vessel, after flat barge in ports used to discharge waste from anchored ships

scran

food at sea, from northern English for broken victuals, scraps

shab

eighteenth-century term for ill-dressed person, from shabbroon

shaddock

large round fruit with a coarse-grained pulp, after the popularising seventeenth-century Captain Shaddock

soursop

Caribbean fruit with a creamy sour flavour

spithead

area off Portsmouth where the fleet anchors when in port

stingo

the stronger brews of English beer

tack

in order to gain ground against the wind a square-rigged vessel must first take the wind closely on one side then the other

top it the tiger

showing bravery and courage, as a tiger

tuileries

the royal palace of the doomed King Louis, later taken for his own by Emperor Bonaparte

volunteer

opposite of pressed man; also rate of youngster before being made midshipman

yaw

to slew either side of the true course, intentionally or otherwise

younker

affectionate term for youngster

zephyr

a barely perceptible breeze

1773

Thomas Paine Kydd is born 20 June, in Guildford, Surrey, son of Walter and Fanny Kydd.

1789

The Storming of the Bastille, 14 July.

1793-1794

Louis XVI executed, 21 January 1793.

France declares war on England; Kydd, a wig-maker by trade, is press-ganged into the 98-gun ship of the line

Duke William.

KYDD

The Reign of Terror begins, 5 September 1793-28 July 1794.

ARTEMIS

Transferred aboard the crack frigate

Artemis,

Kydd is now a true Jack Tar who comes to love the sea-going life.

1795

The Netherlands is invaded by France, 19 January, and becomes the Batavian Republic.

SEAFLOWER

In the Caribbean, Kydd continues to grow as a prime seaman.

1797

Battle of Cape St Vincent, 14 February. Mutiny at the Nore, 17 April.

Kydd is promoted to acting lieutenant at Battle of Camperdown, 11 October.

MUTINY

1798-1799

Kydd passes exam for lieutenancy; now he must become a gentleman.

QUARTERDECK

From the Halifax station, Kydd and his ship are summoned to join Nelson on an urgent mission.

The Battle of the Nile, 1 August 1798. Britain takes Minorca as a naval base from Spain, 16 November 1798.

Siege of Acre, March-May 1799.

TENACIOUS

1801-1802

Prime Minister Pitt resigns February 1801. Battle of Copenhagen, 2 April 1801. Kydd is made commander of brig-sloop

Teazer

but his jubilation is cut short when peace is declared and he finds himself unemployed.

Peace at Treaty of Amiens, 25 March 1802.

COMMAND

1803

War resumes 18 May, with Britain declaring war on the French.

Unexpectedly, Kydd finds himself back in command of his beloved

Teazer

.

THE ADMIRAL’S DAUGHTER

Kydd is dismissed his ship in the Channel Islands station.

TREACHERY

1804

Napoleon’s invasion plans are to the fore.

May, Pitt becomes Prime Minister again Napoleon is crowned Emperor, 2 December

INVASION

1805

Kydd is made post-captain of

L’Aurore.

The Battle of Trafalgar, 21 October 1805.

VICTORY

1806

The race to empire begins in South Africa. British forces take Cape Town, 12 January.

A bold attack on Buenos Aires is successful, 2 July 1806.

CONQUEST

Effective end of The Fourth Coalition, 14 October 1806.

BETRAYAL

In the Caribbean, the French threat takes a new and menacing form.

CARIBBEE