The Sea: Its Stirring Story of Adventure, Peril, and Heroism. Volume 2 Informative Summary

Overview:

This volume delves into the captivating world of the sea, narrating stories of adventure, peril, and heroism spanning centuries. The text begins by chronicling early voyages to America and the pursuit of the elusive El Dorado, highlighting the struggles and sacrifices endured by explorers and colonists. It then introduces Sir William Monson, a remarkable naval hero whose life was a testament to bravery and cunning in the face of war and captivity.

The narrative transitions to the rise of global trade and the formation of powerful companies like the East India Company, revealing the vast profits and indulgent perquisites enjoyed by its officers. It then traces the development of steam navigation, showcasing the pioneering efforts of individuals like Patrick Miller, William Symington, and Robert Fulton, whose innovations revolutionized maritime travel. The text further delves into the crucial role of lighthouses, highlighting the engineering marvels of the Eddystone, Bell Rock, and Skerryvore lighthouses, and the tireless efforts of men like Smeaton and Stevenson to conquer the unforgiving sea.

Key Findings:

Early colonial efforts in Virginia were marred by conflicts with Native Americans and the ultimate disappearance of the colonists.
The quest for the mythical El Dorado led to disastrous expeditions, costing thousands of lives and revealing the dangers of unchecked ambition.
Sir William Monson emerged as a key naval hero, known for his daring exploits and masterful use of strategy, even during a two-year period as a galley slave.
The East India Company enjoyed immense wealth and influence, with its officers benefitting from numerous perquisites and privileges.
The invention of the steam engine and its subsequent application to navigation revolutionized maritime travel and global trade.
Lighthouse construction, a testament to human ingenuity, overcame tremendous challenges to provide vital guidance for mariners navigating dangerous waters.
The ironclad revolutionized naval warfare, with the iconic Monitor and Merrimac emerging as early examples of the shift in naval power dynamics.
The development of torpedoes, from early experiments with gunpowder to modern, complex systems, has significantly impacted the future of naval warfare.

Learning:

The Importance of Maritime Trade: The text reveals how global trade, facilitated by ships and navigation, shaped empires, fueled economies, and connected cultures throughout history.
The Evolution of Naval Warfare: From the days of sailing ships and cannons to the rise of ironclads and torpedoes, the text highlights the constant evolution of naval warfare strategies and technologies.
The Triumph of Human Ingenuity: The text showcases the remarkable achievements of engineers and inventors in overcoming challenging obstacles to create innovative solutions for navigation, safety, and warfare.
The Dangers of the Sea: The text emphasizes the constant perils faced by those who navigate the sea, highlighting the devastating power of storms, the treacherous nature of shoals and sands, and the risks of shipwrecks.
The Importance of Lighthouses: The text underscores the crucial role of lighthouses in guiding mariners safely through dangerous waters, saving lives and protecting maritime trade.
The Role of Philanthropy and Courage: The text celebrates the selfless efforts of individuals who dedicated themselves to saving lives at sea, from early inventors of lifeboats to the heroic crew members who braved the elements to rescue those in danger.

Historical Context:

The text spans a period from the 16th to the 19th century, covering a time of great upheaval and transformation in the world. England experienced a period of maritime dominance, marked by exploration, colonization, and war. The rise of global trade, fueled by technological advancements and commercial ventures, reshaped economic power dynamics and led to the development of powerful companies like the East India Company. The Industrial Revolution ushered in new technologies, including the steam engine, and fundamentally changed the way goods were transported and the world was explored.

Facts:

First English Colony in Virginia: The first English colony in Virginia was established in 1585 by Sir Walter Raleigh, but the colonists ultimately disappeared, their fate unknown.
The Myth of El Dorado: The quest for the mythical city of El Dorado fueled numerous expeditions throughout the 16th century, costing thousands of lives and ultimately proving to be a dangerous fantasy.
Sir William Monson’s Naval Prowess: Sir William Monson, a remarkable naval hero, served his country for fifty years and is known for his daring exploits, mastery of strategy, and ability to overcome adversity, even enduring a two-year period as a galley slave.
East India Company’s Perks: The East India Company, a powerful trading entity, provided its officers with a range of lucrative privileges, including generous import allowances, access to exclusive markets, and passage-money from private passengers.
Patrick Miller and the First Steamboat: Patrick Miller of Dalswinton, Scotland, pioneered early steam navigation experiments in 1787 and 1788, successfully propelling vessels with steam-powered paddle-wheels.
William Symington’s Breakthrough Engine: William Symington, the engineer who built Miller’s engines, further developed steam navigation by creating a double-acting reciprocating engine connected to a paddle-wheel axis, a design that remains influential today.
Robert Fulton’s Submarine Boat: Robert Fulton, an American inventor, designed and built a remarkable submarine boat, the Nautilus, and conducted groundbreaking experiments with torpedoes in France and England.
Fulton’s First Steamboat Line: Fulton and his partner Robert Livingston established the first paying line of steamboats in the United States, revolutionizing inland navigation with the Clermont in 1807.
The Eddystone Lighthouse: The Eddystone Lighthouse, a testament to engineering ingenuity, stands as a critical beacon for mariners navigating the treacherous waters of the English Channel.
Smeaton’s Masterful Design: John Smeaton, a renowned engineer, designed and built the present Eddystone Lighthouse in 1759, utilizing innovative techniques like dovetailing in masonry to withstand the unforgiving sea.
The Bell Rock Lighthouse: The Bell Rock Lighthouse, located off the coast of Scotland, was built by John Rennie in 1810, a monumental task that involved overcoming countless challenges posed by the treacherous environment.
Alan Stevenson’s Skerryvore Lighthouse: Alan Stevenson, son of Robert Stevenson, designed and built the Skerryvore Lighthouse, a remarkable feat of engineering, on a dangerous rock twelve miles from the Isle of Tyree in Argyllshire.
The First Ironclad: The Aaron Manby, launched in 1818, marked the beginning of the ironclad era in ship-building, showcasing the strength and resilience of iron in resisting the rigors of the sea.
The Invention of the Screw Propeller: The screw propeller, which revolutionized ship propulsion, emerged through the combined efforts of inventors like John Ericsson, Thomas Pettit Smith, and Francis Pettit Smith, leading to its widespread adoption.
The Great Eastern: The Great Eastern, the largest ship ever built, was a marvel of engineering but faced numerous challenges and financial setbacks, ultimately proving unsuccessful due to its size and limitations.
The Monitor’s Impact: The Monitor, an innovative American ironclad, demonstrated the potential of turret-based gunnery, leaving a lasting impact on naval warfare.
The Lay Torpedo: The Lay torpedo, an American invention, utilizes condensed gas as propulsion and can be remotely controlled, making it a formidable weapon for naval attacks.
The Whitehead Torpedo: The Whitehead torpedo, also known as the “fish” torpedo, is an autonomous weapon that travels at high speeds and explodes on impact, proving a significant threat to ships.
The Ram’s Power: The ram, a powerful weapon employed by ironclads, has proven incredibly effective in naval battles, highlighting its destructive potential.
The Cherbourg Breakwater: The Cherbourg breakwater, located on the coast of France, is the largest breakwater in the world, a monumental engineering feat that created a vital artificial harbor.
Rennie’s Plymouth Breakwater: John Rennie’s Plymouth breakwater, a massive stone barrier nearly a mile long, stands as a testament to his engineering brilliance and the enduring power of nature.
Portland Breakwater: The Portland breakwater, a double breakwater that protects the harbor of Portland, is considered a model of effective and efficient engineering, using local resources and minimizing waste.
The Verne Citadel: The Verne Citadel, located on Portland, stands as one of the strongest fortified harbors in the world, a formidable defense system encompassing a massive dry ditch and powerful weaponry.
The Goodwin Sands: The Goodwin Sands, a treacherous shoal off the coast of Kent, are notorious for causing numerous shipwrecks and highlighting the dangers of navigation in the English Channel.
The Great Gale of 1703: The Great Gale of 1703, a devastating storm that ravaged the English coast, resulted in the loss of thirteen Royal Navy vessels and an estimated 8,000 lives.
The Origin of the Lifeboat: Lionel Lukin, a coach-builder, is credited with inventing the first lifeboat in 1784, driven by a philanthropic desire to save lives at sea.
Greathead’s Lifeboat: Henry Greathead, a boatbuilder, designed and built the first truly practicable lifeboat in 1789, incorporating a curved keel and cork lining, significantly improving the boat’s stability and seaworthiness.
The National Lifeboat Institution: The National Lifeboat Institution, founded in 1824, has played a vital role in saving lives at sea, establishing stations, building boats, and training crews for rescue missions.
Beeching’s Self-Righting Lifeboat: James Beeching, a boatbuilder, developed the self-righting lifeboat in 1850, a revolutionary design that dramatically improved the boat’s ability to recover from capsizing.
The Dangers of Wrecking: Wrecking, a practice prevalent in earlier centuries, involved the plundering of shipwrecked vessels and often the murder of survivors, highlighting the depths of human depravity.
The Hovellers’ Noble Mission: The hovellers, hardy boatmen who venture out to assist ships in distress, are celebrated for their courage and skill in rescuing those in danger, contrasting with the nefarious actions of wreckers.

Statistics:

First Virginia Colony: 100 men formed the initial colony landed in Virginia in 1585.
Raleigh’s Expenditures: Sir Walter Raleigh spent approximately £40,000 on his colonial efforts in Virginia.
Spanish El Dorado Expedition: 2,000 Spaniards embarked on a disastrous expedition in search of El Dorado, with only a fraction surviving.
East Indiaman Tonnage: The Earl of Balcarras, a fine East India Company ship, measured 1,417 tons and carried 130 souls on board.
Dutch Herring Boats: 9,000 Dutch vessels were employed in the herring fisheries during the reign of James I.
East India Company Profits: One East India Company expedition returned in twenty months, earning a profit of 340%.
Charles I.’s Naval Expenditures: The annual expenditure for the Royal Navy during Charles I.’s reign was approximately £21,000.
The Royal Sovereign: The Royal Sovereign, built in 1637, was a formidable warship, measuring 232 feet long and carrying 64 guns.
Spanish Galleons Captured: Cromwell’s navy captured Spanish galleons worth an estimated £600,000 in the 1650s.
Dutch Ships Seized: Charles II. seized 130 Dutch ships laden with wine and brandy in 1665, initiating a new conflict.
Peter the Great’s Naval Force: Peter the Great, upon his return to Russia, had 36 ships of war and was rapidly expanding his navy.
St. Petersburg’s First Ship: The first ship to enter the port of St. Petersburg was a Dutch vessel, arriving in 1703.
South Sea Bubble Capital: The South Sea Company raised a capital of two million pounds sterling in 1720.
South Sea Stock Price: South Sea stock peaked at £1,000 per share before collapsing to £175.
South Sea Directors’ Gains: Sir John Blunt, a South Sea director, amassed a fortune of £183,000 before being forced to disgorge his gains.
Chelsea Pensioners: 500 Chelsea Pensioners were drafted to serve on Anson’s expedition in 1740, with only a few surviving.
Spanish Galleon Treasure: Anson’s capture of the Manilla galleon Nostra Signora de Cabadonga yielded over 1,300,000 pieces of eight and 35,682 ounces of virgin silver.
American Colonies’ Shipping: By 1729, Philadelphia boasted 6,000 tons of shipping and received 6,208 immigrants that year.
Boston Tea Party: 340 chests of tea were dumped into Boston Harbor in 1773, signifying the growing discontent of the American colonists.
Emigrants to America: In the years leading up to the American Revolution, thousands of Europeans, especially from Ireland and Scotland, emigrated to the American colonies.
Losses in the Great Gale of 1703: This catastrophic storm resulted in the loss of 13 Royal Navy vessels and an estimated 8,000 lives.
Ships Lost in the Thames: During the Great Gale of 1703, approximately 700 ships were driven aground in the Thames, causing widespread damage and disruption.
Lifeboat Successes: From 1791 to 1803, Greathead’s first lifeboat saved the crews of five ships, highlighting the early success of this lifesaving invention.
National Lifeboat Institution Revenue: The National Lifeboat Institution, a vital organization for maritime rescue, received only £3,392 7s. 5d. in revenue during its second year.
The Great Eastern’s Dimensions: The Great Eastern, the largest ship of its time, measured 692 feet long, 82 feet wide, and 58 feet deep.
The Great Eastern’s Engine Power: The Great Eastern was equipped with engines generating a total of 11,000 horsepower, a remarkable feat for its time.
The Miantonoma: The Miantonoma, an American monitor, was equipped with two 480-pounder smooth-bore guns.
Ironclad Cost: The Warrior, one of the first ironclads in the Royal Navy, cost £124,245 for maintenance and repair up to 1876.
The Inflexible: The Inflexible, a double-turret ironclad, cost over half a million sterling.
Torpedoes Used in Warfare: During the American Civil War, torpedoes were used effectively by both the Union and Confederacy, particularly in river and harbor warfare.
The Lay Torpedo’s Speed: The Lay torpedo can travel at a rate of twelve miles an hour, showcasing its potential as a rapid-strike weapon.
The Whitehead Torpedo’s Power: The Whitehead torpedo, capable of reaching speeds of 25 miles an hour, is propelled by compressed air and can be fired independently, making it a formidable threat.
The Cherbourg Breakwater’s Length: The Cherbourg breakwater extends for nearly two and a half miles, representing a monumental undertaking in artificial harbor construction.
Plymouth Breakwater Stones: The Plymouth breakwater, built by John Rennie, required the deposition of 3,670,444 tons of stone.
Portland Breakwater Stones: The Portland breakwater, built by Mr. Coode, involved the deposition of 5,360,000 tons of stone.
The Verne Ditch: The Verne Citadel on Portland features a dry ditch nearly a mile long, 80 feet deep, and 100 to 200 feet wide, a massive engineering accomplishment.
Northfleet Casualties: Over 300 people died in the wreck of the Northfleet in 1873.
Schiller Casualties: The Schiller, wrecked in 1875, claimed the lives of over 330 people, highlighting the dangers of navigation in the Scilly Islands.
Deutschland Casualties: The Deutschland, wrecked in 1875, resulted in a significant loss of life, but fewer than the Schiller, and led to the establishment of a new lifeboat station.

Terms:

Caciques: Native chiefs or leaders, particularly in South America.
Caravel: A small, fast sailing ship, commonly used by the Portuguese and Spanish in the 15th and 16th centuries.
Carrack: A large sailing ship, heavily armed and used for long voyages, particularly to the Indies.
Indulgences: Privileges or exemptions granted by a governing body, especially in the context of trade and commerce.
Factories: Trading posts or forts established by European companies in foreign territories.
Ship Money: A tax levied by Charles I. in England, requiring maritime counties to contribute to the royal navy.
Navigation Act: A law passed in England in 1651, requiring all goods imported into British territories to be carried in British-built ships.
Monitor: A type of ironclad warship with a low profile and a revolving turret housing heavy guns.
Torpedo: A self-propelled or explosive device used to attack ships under water.
Breakwater: A barrier constructed to protect a harbor or coastline from the force of waves and storms.

Examples:

Raleigh’s Search for El Dorado: Sir Walter Raleigh’s expedition to Guiana in 1595, driven by a desire to find the fabled city of El Dorado, resulted in little gold and fueled Spanish expeditions that ultimately failed and cost thousands of lives.
Monson’s Capture of the St. Valentine: Sir William Monson’s capture of the Spanish treasure ship St. Valentine in 1597, in Cerimbra Roads, was a daring feat, executed in the face of a fortress and eleven galleys.
Peter the Great’s Shipbuilding: Peter the Great’s journey to Holland and England in the late 17th century was marked by his intense focus on shipbuilding and maritime affairs, which led to the rapid growth of Russia’s naval power.
Fulton’s Submarine Boat: Robert Fulton’s Nautilus, a remarkable submarine boat, was a testament to his innovative spirit, demonstrating the potential for underwater warfare and exploration.
The Wreck of the Adventure: The tragic wreck of the Adventure in 1789, in which the crew perished only yards from shore, prompted the development of the lifeboat as a lifesaving device.
The Eddystone Lighthouse: The Eddystone Lighthouse, built by John Smeaton, stood as a symbol of engineering resilience, overcoming the harsh conditions of the English Channel to provide a vital beacon for mariners.
The Bell Rock Lighthouse: The Bell Rock Lighthouse, built by John Rennie, was a testament to the ingenuity and perseverance required to construct a lighthouse on a treacherous rock.
The Skerryvore Lighthouse: Alan Stevenson’s construction of the Skerryvore Lighthouse showcased the remarkable challenges and triumphs of building a lighthouse on a remote and unforgiving rock twelve miles from the Isle of Tyree.
The Ironclad Warrior: The Warrior, one of the first ironclads in the Royal Navy, marked a shift in naval warfare, demonstrating the power and potential of iron-built ships.
The Rescue of the Samaritano: The rescue of the crew of the Samaritano, a Spanish brig stranded on the Goodwin Sands, highlighted the bravery and skill of the Ramsgate lifeboat crew in overcoming a treacherous storm.

Conclusion:

This volume provides a fascinating and comprehensive look at the history of ships and shipping, showcasing the human spirit’s drive for exploration, the challenges and triumphs of naval warfare, and the ongoing struggle to conquer the sea. From early voyages of discovery to the ironclad era, the text reveals the evolution of maritime technology and the essential role it has played in shaping the world. The stories of brave seafarers, dedicated engineers, and those who strive to save lives at sea inspire awe and respect for those who navigate the unforgiving waters. The text underscores the enduring human spirit that pushes boundaries, faces danger, and continues to advance maritime technology, ensuring the safety and progress of those who depend on the sea.

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