Admirals in Court

Discipline, Honour and Naval Justice, 1778-1814

Admirals in Court cover

Admirals in Court

Discipline, Honour and Naval Justice, 1778-1814

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Pre-order. Available Jul 10 2025
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Description

Exploring the role that courts martial played in the professional lives of flag officers in the late Georgian Royal Navy, this book examines the genesis, proceedings and outcomes of nine trials faced by British admirals in the American and French wars.

Despite only one admiral being found guilty as charged, the implications of facing trial were highly significant on all of these officers' careers and their surrounding political climates. For some officers, courts martial provided them a means of preserving their honour and professional reputations in the face of perceived mistreatment or criticism.

This study sets the experiences of these nine admirals in the context of the naval courts martial system and considers their charging and conviction rate with other naval personnel in the period to understand how the naval justice system worked at the top of society. Drawing on a range of sources, from Admiralty records in the National Archives to official and personal papers, publications of the Naval Records Society and press literature, it sheds new light on prominent individuals' careers and key moments in 18th century naval history.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Part I: The Naval Courts Martial System
The Framework
Procedures and Practices
Divergent Pathways
Part II: Duty, Obedience and Respect
The Keppel-Palliser Affair: a question of appropriate zeal
The Palliser-Keppel Affair: a question of obedience
The limits of discretion: Vice Admiral William Cornwallis versus Lord Spencer
Judgements and Misjudgements: Vice Admiral Sir Robert Calder
Accuser and Accused: Sequels to Admiral Lord Gambier's action of Basque Roads
Part III: Wealth without Honour
A Hostage to Enmity: Vice Admiral Sir William Parker versus Earl St Vincent
'For the Use of the Ship?': Vice Admiral Sir John Duckworth's extraordinary baggage
'Guilty in Part': Vice Admiral Charles Stirling's Misadventures in the West Indies
Conclusion
Notes
Index

Product details

Bloomsbury Academic Test
Published Jul 10 2025
Format Hardback
Edition 1st
Extent 264
ISBN 9781350467279
Imprint Bloomsbury Academic
Illustrations 10 bw illus
Dimensions 234 x 156 mm
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

John Morrow

John Morrow is Professor of Political Studies and…

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