The First of June

[anteros_lmc]

First of June is a busy date in naval history, not only did the battle of the Glorious First of June take place off Ushant in 1794, HMS Shannon captured USS Chesapeake in the famous single ship duel in Boston Harbour in 1813 and James Clark Ross and his uncle John Ross discovered the Magnetic North Pole on the Boothia Peninsula in 1831. Which gives me the perfect excuse to post this splendid portrait of James Clark Ross who, in addition to being an indefatigable polar explorer, was also reputeded to be the most handsome / vainest man in the Royal Navy, depending on your point of view :}



Captain James Clark Ross

Comments

[esmerelda-t.livejournal.com]

Handsomest man in the navy eh?

Well I would so he may have a point. :p

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Hard to ague isn't it? :}

[eglantine-br.livejournal.com]

Crozier was there with them, when they discovered the magnetic North. He was a friend to both the Rosses. (He used to act as an intermediate when they were not talking to each other.

In fact, when he set off with Franklin, old Ross essentially said, 'I have a bad feeling about this-- but I will come and get you if you get into trouble.'

But Ross never did find Crozier, of course.

Also, if a man looks like J. C. Ross, he really ought to be obliged to dress that way all the time!

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

He used to act as an intermediate when they were not talking to each other.
Not an easy role I should think! From what little I know of them JC Ross and J Ross were very, very different characters.

In fact, when he set off with Franklin, old Ross essentially said, 'I have a bad feeling about this-- but I will come and get you if you get into trouble.'
That's tragic, just tragic.

Also, if a man looks like J. C. Ross, he really ought to be obliged to dress that way all the time!
I agree!

[vespican.livejournal.com]

And of course, according to PO'B, Jack and Stephen were aboard Shannon on this date in 1813.

The results of this ship to ship duel well illustrate the advantage of a ship's company that has worked and trained together of some time, as opposed to one that hasn't had time to become familiar with each other or their vessel.
Dave

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

And of course, according to PO'B, Jack and Stephen were aboard Shannon on this date in 1813.
I didn't know that! I haven't reached that point in the series yet.

The results of this ship to ship duel well illustrate the advantage of a ship's company that has worked and trained together of some time, as opposed to one that hasn't had time to become familiar with each other or their vessel.
I've read two naval histories recently that have made that very point, and also highlighted Napoleon's failure to realise it. One went so far as to suggest that he believed that British crews were wearing themselves out on continual blockade duty, while "fresh" French crews who had never left port would have the advantage in battle.

[vespican.livejournal.com]

If continual blockade duty had any detrimental effect, I think it was to cause crews to become complacent, along with a long string of victories. "Fresh" French crews would have needed at least a minimum amount of time at sea with realistic training to have become competent and have had any sort of chance at victory. (Constitution's crew had not been aboard all that long before meeting Guerierre in August of 1812. But they had trained extensively since leaving port and before the battle.)
Dave

[vespican.livejournal.com]

Sorry, hope the revelation isn't too much of a spoiler.
Dave

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

No need to apologise, I am immune to spoilers, they don't bother me at all! In fact when I was a kid I used to always read the last page of a book first, so I would know how it ended before I started reading it!

[stevie-carroll.livejournal.com]

What is he wearing, and how many bears were involved in its creation (not that I'm one to talk: you must have seen my infamous brown polyester beast in Edinburgh)?

On the other hand, you could tweak his nose slightly and he'd be the perfect model for my Hugh Peveril (Edward is based on a portrait I sam in Snowshill Manor IIRC).

[stevie-carroll.livejournal.com]

[ETA:] having Googled, the picture I was thinking of is probably Charles Padget Wade himself (though Edward has vaastly prettier hair).

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

That's interesting. I haven't come across Charles Paget Wade before, but I do know of Captain Charles Padget RN and his brother Henry William Lord Paget who was just as handsome and dashing as Ross. Lord Paget caused a scandal when he abandoned his wife Lady Caroline Villiers and their eight children and ran off with Lady Charlotte Cadogan, sister of George Cadogan, former midshipman of HMS Indefatigable. Bet you really wanted to know all that :}

[stevie-carroll.livejournal.com]

Oh, I always like to know random facts. I don't think either of those were related to my Paget Wade, though. He was mainly interested in architecture and collecting things.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Rofl! I think I do vaguely recall the polyester beast! XD

Amy Miller waxes lyrical about JCR's bear skin in her fabulous book Dressed to Kill

you could tweak his nose slightly and he'd be the perfect model for my Hugh Peveril
He's be the perfect model for any body tbh!

[stevie-carroll.livejournal.com]

Another book I should read, evidently!

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Dressed to Kill is fabulous if you can get ahold of it. It's a National Maritime Museum publication but they only printed one edition and it's now selling for stupid amounts of money on Amazon. The cheapest copy is £250 and one is going for £1,160! Though I can't believe that anyone would actually pay that for a book that originally cost £15 just a couple of years ago. I wrote a silly wee review of it here if you're interested.

[stevie-carroll.livejournal.com]

Reviews read. Gosport Discovery Centre have a not-for-loan copy that I'll have to look at next time I'm down there.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

It's definitely worth a look if you have a chance, it really is uniform porn of the very highest order!

[mylodon.livejournal.com]

Well, he's a stunner.

Huzzay for Shannon! Huzzay for Chesapeake Mill!

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Isn't he splendid?!

[nodbear.livejournal.com]

he may well have been justly named *admires*

I love the furry outfit!

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

he may well have been justly named *admires*
He's have fitted right in on the Indy doncha think? ;)

[nodbear.livejournal.com]

he would pass the general aesthetically pleasing middy assessment one needed to work on board ;)

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

He'd fit right in to the Indy's larboard berth ;)

[amaraal.livejournal.com]

Rrrrrrr... *is word- and speechless*

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Hehe! Is this this first time you've met Captain Ross? Isn't he handsome?!

[amaraal.livejournal.com]

*makes paws at him* If I would be a cat, I would snuggle up in that fur coat, wind my tail around his neck and never let him go again :) *purrs* Yes, first time. Pity he is dead already :)
Remind me to re-read Aubrey/Maturin and to read Hornblower. It seems I miss something essential...
*looks at him again* *purrs*

Thanks for posting this picture, btw. You're a saint :)

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

You're very welcome indeed my dear! I'm always happy to share pretty Navyboys!

[amaraal.livejournal.com]

Did nodbear sent you the other pics? Dancing sailors?

[aletheiafelinea.livejournal.com]

My my, splendid indeed. *cough*Even if he looks like being in need of a big cup of hot tea*cough*

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

After spending several winters trapped in ice at the North Pole I'm sure Captain Ross would appreciate a cup of tea!

[vespican.livejournal.com]

Especially if bolstered with a good dollop of rum!