Author Results for L G Carr Laughton
Saluting the Quarterdeck
The origin and meaning of this salute have been disputed, but advocates of the most common arguments have not produced evidence. Some evidence is however clearly available, and examples are described. With English ships, there is a need to distinguish between respect paid to the ship and that to the officer on duty; the earliest […] Read More
Filed under: Mutiny & Discipline | Other (Early Modern) | Other (Eighteenth C) | Other (location)
Subjects include: Manpower & Life at Sea | Navies
HMS Britannia, 1700
An update is given on an earlier debate between the author and R C. Anderson on the interpretation of features of the Cuckfield model of HMS Britannia of 1700 and the light these can throw on contemporary naval administration, shipbuilding and repair practice. A detailed discussion covers technical aspects of ship survey and repair, relations […] Read More
Filed under: Other (Early Modern) | Other (location)
Subjects include: Harbours & Dockyards | Ship Models & Figureheads | Shipbuilding & Design
Ivory Model Ships
The article begins with a consideration of whether or not a model ship held in Holland represents the Prince of Wales as is claimed. Differences between the model and what is known of the battleship, such as the number of gun ports are described. Other possible identifications for the model, such as the French L’Orient […] Read More
Filed under: Napoleonic War | Other (location)
Subjects include: Ship Models & Figureheads
Note: XVII Century Topsail Yards
Carr Laughton takes issue with Alan Moore concerning the proportional length of topsail to lower yards in his MM Volume 2, Issue 9 article. He provides details of written sources which demonstrate that at the period in question the topsail yards were in fact in excess of half the length of the lower yard. Read More
Filed under: Other (Early Modern) | Other (location)
Subjects include: Shipbuilding & Design
Note: Sheerness
The Note refers to the illustration of Sheerness which appears opposite the article. Carr Laughton believed that the engraving had originally been produced to be included in the five volume “Nouveau Theatre de la Grande Bretagne”, which was printed in London between 1724 and 1729. Copies of the publication, which contains many maritime related plates, […] Read More
Filed under: Other (Eighteenth C) | Other (location)
Subjects include: Art & Music
Note: The Hulk
Although Carr Laughton acknowledges the accuracy of Morton Nance’s claim that the ships illustrated in his MM Volume 2, Issue 4 article are hulks, he believes that there is a second type, mainly the ‘flyboat’, which was built differently and was smaller. Read More
Filed under: Other (Early Modern) | Other (location)
Subjects include: Merchant Marines | Shipbuilding & Design
Note: Naval Uniform
Carr Laughton surmises that the reason for Post Captains being portrayed in Commanders’ uniforms could have been for a number of reasons, including having held the rank of Commander for a very short period and the differentiating feature of the two uniform coats i.e. the spacing of buttons varied between the two ranks. Read More
Filed under: Nelson | James Cook | Other (Nineteenth C) | Other (location)
Subjects include: Administration | Navies
Note: Nautical Encyclopaedias
Carr Laughton suggests the book “Vocabulaire des termes de Marine” by G. Soe should be added to the list published in MM Volume 1, Issue 8. Read More
Filed under: Other (Twentieth C) | Other (location)
Subjects include: Miscellaneous
Note: Wenceslaus Hollar
Carr Laughton provides additional information concerning the artist Wenceslaus Hollar who was featured in MM Volume 1, Issue 8. Hollar lived in England in 1639 and one of his engravings in the British Museum is part of a history of Kent. Its nautical research interest lies in the fact that it depicts the English, Spanish […] Read More
Filed under: English Channel | Dutch Wars
Subjects include: Art & Music | Navies
Note: Union Jack
Carr Laughton provides earlier examples of the use of Union or Jack Flag than those raised by W G Perrin in his MM Volume 1, Issue 6 ‘Note’. The earliest reference therefore appears to be the Duke of York’s 1673 ‘Fighting Instructions’. Read More
Filed under: Other (Early Modern) | Other (location)
Subjects include: Administration | Navies
Note: Nautical Encyclopaedias
Here Carr Laughton explains why he did not include very early encyclopaedias in his article which appeared in Volume 1, Issue 3. He reasoned that in the early 18th century nautical articles were written “in the office” and were compilations from technical works of earlier date, with the information given frequently being obsolete. Read More
Filed under: Other (Eighteenth C) | Other (location)
Subjects include: Miscellaneous
Note: The French Ensign
Carr Laughton seeks to clarify when the white ensign was superseded by the tricolour in French service. Read More
Filed under: Atlantic | French Revolution | Mediterranean
Subjects include: Administration | Navies
Note: The Establishment of 1719
Carr Laughton seeks to identify the changes in the design of warships built in 1719 and about 1730. His conclusion was that there was very little difference during the eleven years. Read More
Filed under: Other (Eighteenth C) | Other (location)
Subjects include: Shipbuilding & Design
Note: Mizzen
The short note comments on the origin of the word mizzen as used in British rigs. Read More
Filed under: Other (Twentieth C) | Other (location)
Subjects include: Shipbuilding & Design
Note: House Flags
Carr Laughton provides pictorial evidence of a number of house flags of shipping lines that were associated with, and displayed by, the Borough Council of Poplar in London during the Coronation season. Read More
Filed under: Other (Twentieth C) | Internal Waterways
Subjects include: Merchant Marines
Note: Henry Cornelius Vroom
Carr Laughton challenges Henry Parker’s description of Vroom’s Armada Tapestries, which appeared in MM Volume 1, Issue 5. He takes issue with Parker’s use of ‘formations’ in describing the layout of the fleet, the meaning of which could be misconstrued in a naval context. Read More
Filed under: Other (Early Modern) | Other (location)
Subjects include: Art & Music | Battles & Tactics | Navies
Note: Mizzen
Having answered a query concerning the correct spelling of ‘mizzen’ (one ‘z’ or two) Carr Laughton then proceeds to establish the origin of the word and its different usage through the ages. Read More
Filed under: Other (Nineteenth C) | Other (Eighteenth C) | Other (location)
Subjects include: Shipbuilding & Design
Note: Bitter End
Carr Laughton elaborates on the meaning of the above phrase, which was initially raised in MM Volume 1, Issue 2. Quoting sources, he believes that bitter end derives from the cable left after it has been wound around the bits. Read More
Filed under: Other (Early Modern) | Other (location)
Subjects include: Ship Handling & Seamanship
Note: Jan Parcelles
This short note, which follows-up an article in MM Volume 1, Issue 2 points out that there were a number of paintings by the above artist in the Royal Collection at Hampton Court. Read More
Filed under: Other (Early Modern) | Other (location)
Subjects include: Art & Music
Note: Peter Boat
Carr Laughton describes in detail what he believed to be the last remaining Peter Boat on the Thames. At twenty-three feet in length and nine feet wide such vessels were used for fishing, as evidenced by the fish well at its centre. The one he came across in 1911 was still being used for its […] Read More
Filed under: Other (Twentieth C) | Internal Waterways
Subjects include: Whaling & Fishing
Note: Old Sea Terms Ashore
Carr Laughton raises an interesting point concerning phrases that were common at sea and were adopted ashore. He also points out that some expressions were more common on shore than at sea and that, at sea, words retained a meaning which had gone out of use on the land and vice-versa. Read More
Filed under: Other (Twentieth C) | Other (location)
Subjects include: Miscellaneous
Note: Reefs
Carr Laughton refers to a reply received concerning his comments in MM Volume 1, Issue 1 on the above subject and requests further information. Read More
Filed under: High Middle Ages | Mediterranean
Subjects include: Shipbuilding & Design
Note: The Ship Models at Cuckfield Park Sussex
Carr Laughton provides brief details of each of the eight models to be found in the rooms of Cuckfield Park. He also mentions two or three other models but does not go into detail. Read More
Filed under: Other (Early Modern) | Other (location)
Subjects include: Ship Models & Figureheads
Note: The Origin of the Schooner Rig
Tradition has it that the schooner came into existence in 1713, with the launch of such a vessel by Andrew Robinson of Gloucester, Massachusetts. However, Carr Laughton argues that vessels with similar rig were known before that date, with paintings by the Van de Veldes supporting his claim. In his view the 1713 date relates […] Read More
Filed under: Atlantic | North Sea | Other (Eighteenth C)
Subjects include: Merchant Marines | Shipbuilding & Design