private signal
ship’s identifying code known only to members of a given squadron or fleet, requiring secret reply
prize
vessel captured from an enemy state either by a man-o’-war or licensed privateer
puncheon
cask of 72-gallon capacity; can be filled with liquid or bulk
quarters
after a warship has cleared for action it closes up at quarters: men go to the guns
quoin
inclined wedge placed under breech of a gun to effect elevation
ran-tan
all out joyous run ashore; French ran-tan, knocking, banging
reefer
midshipman
row-guard
manning a boat and circling a ship slowly to discourage deserting
royster
general merriment at a tavern
rum do
strange happening
running rigging
the operating ropes of a ship as compared to standing rigging, which supports masts
rutter
old term for written sailing directions
sabretache
flat bag or pouch suspended below the sabre of mounted horseman
Sami
peoples indigenous to Lapland, Finland, the Kola peninsula
sennit
woven yarn or straw worked by sailors
ship-rigged
fully rigged; three masts with square sail on all
skiddy cock
smaller friend
strut-noddy
swaggering promenader who doesn’t know he looks foolish
tertian
type of barrel traditionally used in the southwest of England
the ton
those adhering to high fashion, stylish; Latin tonus, tone
trots, the
piles sunk out in a river or waterway to allow a vessel to moor alongside without taking the ground at low water
yeoman of the powder room
an experienced hand in charge of powder stowage; keeps accounts on behalf of the gunner
TIMELINE
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
Louis XVI executed, 21 January
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
Artemis
1794
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
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
Tenacious
Britain takes Minorca as a naval base from Spain, 16 November
1799
Siege of Acre, March-May
1801
Prime Minister Pitt resigns, 16 February
Battle of Copenhagen, 2 April
Kydd is made commander of brig-sloop Teazer but his jubilation is cut short when peace is declared and he finds himself unemployed
1802
Temporary peace at Treaty of Amiens, 25 March
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
1804
Napoleon’s invasion plans are to the fore
May, Pitt becomes Prime Minister again
1804
Napoleon is crowned Emperor, 2 December
Invasion
1805
Kydd is made post-captain of L’Aurore
The Battle of Trafalgar, 21 October
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
Conquest
Effective end of The Fourth Coalition, 14 October
Betrayal
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