The Naval Chronicle

The Naval Chronicle, published in 40 volumes between 1799 and 1818, is a key source for British maritime and military history. This reissue is the first complete printed reproduction of what was the most influential maritime publication of its day. The subjects covered range from accounts of battles and lists of ships to notices of promotions and marriages, courts martial and deaths, and biographies, poetry and letters. Each volume also contains engravings and charts relating to naval engagements and important harbours around the world. Volume 30, published in 1813, contains many eyewitness accounts of British naval battles with French and American ships. It also includes coverage of a plague outbreak in Valetta (Malta), with descriptions of symptoms and prescribed medication, technical articles on a demonstration of torpedoes and on improvements to the storm compass used for navigation, and a biography of Sir Erasmus Gower, admiral and governor of Newfoundland.