Foreign Jack Tars: The British Navy and Transnational Seafarers during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars

The British Royal Navy of the French Wars (1793–1815) relied on tens of thousands of foreign seamen, challenging notions of Britishness and foreignness. Foreign Jack Tars explores the transnational dimensions of the Navy, highlighting the instability of national boundaries and the compromises and contradictions underlying modern states' power.

Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 17 November 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

The British Royal Navy's involvement in the French Wars (1793-1815) is an enduring national symbol, yet we often overlook the significant contributions of foreign seamen to its operations. Foreign Jack Tars, the first comprehensive study of their employment in the Navy during this crucial period, challenges our notions of Britishness and foreignness by drawing on sources from across Britain, Europe, and the United States. Through a blend of quantitative, social, cultural, economic, and legal history, the book sheds light on the complex dynamics of foreign seamen's employment in the Navy.

During wartime, the need for manpower led to the recruitment of foreign seamen, even disregarding cultural prejudices and legal status. These categories, initially imposed for practical purposes, revealed their artificiality as they were temporarily overshadowed by practical considerations. The Navy, rather than being merely an employer in the British maritime market, became a nodal point of global mobility. The book exposes the transnational dimensions of a quintessentially national institution, highlighting the instability of national boundaries and the compromises and contradictions underlying the power of modern states.

Foreign Jack Tars offers a valuable contribution to our understanding of the British Royal Navy and its role in the broader context of global history. By examining the experiences of foreign seamen, the book sheds light on the complex interplay between national identities, power dynamics, and the broader international system. It underscores the importance of recognizing and valuing the contributions of diverse groups of people to the history and development of nations.

Weight: 602g
Dimension: 159 x 236 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781009199797