Julian Stockwin - Inferno

skerries

dangerous half-submerged rocks lying just offshore

small repair

where a ship has no need to enter a dry dock

stayed traveller

a block free to move along a stay, sifting the point of lift

strake

one of the lengths of side-planking of a boat or ship

strop

a spliced circle of rope

syebuck

common sixpence

taphouse

common tavern

threepenny ordinary

cheap meal

to clap t’ your tally

to add to your reputation

train oil

whale oil; Dutch traan

trots

piles driven into the river or sea bed to enable vessels to moor

Ward’s drops

patent medicine of doubtful efficacy

younker

young person

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.

TENACIOUS

Britain takes Minorca as a naval base from Spain, 16 November 1798.

Siege of Acre, March-May 1799.

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 1804.

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.

CONQUEST

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

BETRAYAL

Effective end of The Fourth Coalition, 14 October 1806.

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

CARIBBEE

1807

Napoleon tightens his Continental Blockade and moves on the Levant to break out of Europe.

PASHA

Balked of empire by Trafalgar, Bonaparte strikes east and crushes proud Prussia.

TYGER

Crowning his vanquishing of all Europe with treaties at Tilsit, Bonaparte is free to strike at England but is thwarted by a desperate British assault on neutral Denmark.