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An Engagement between British and American Ships, by Bernard Finnigan Gribble (1872–1962)

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Carl Frederik Sørensen (Danish, 1818–1879), "Danish Ships in Rough Seas" (details), 1877

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Running before the Wind (detail), by Montague Dawson (1890-1973)

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HMS 'Marlborough' and 'Minotaur', by William Adolphus Knell (1802–1875)

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Sunset at Sea, by William Adolphus Knell (1802–1875)

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Square plates

Some may be familiar with the term ‘square meal’ to refer to a full, balanced meal. The saying itself comes from America and dates back to the 1850s. It is always said that this refers to a certain item (it is not true, it goes back to the Old English word “square" for good and honest) which the sailors who sailed before the mast all had since the 1500s, if not earlier.

A square plate or trencher, 1500 -1700 (x)

It was a kind of wooden plate, initially an old piece of bread that was carved to shape, later a square plate made of light wood, sometimes with a rim or without and with a recess or sometimes without. There was no fixed design here.

18th Century square plate from the HMS Invincible (x)

The fact that the normal sailors were all equipped with these plates, which were also called trenchers, was not because the Admiralty did not allow them to have normal crockery, but was issued for practical reasons. The food stayed on the plate in rough seas and did not wander to the neighbour and the plate did not broke if it fell off the table.

A Victorian Royal Navy Mess Plate, c. 1865 (x)

This changed in the 1830s, however, when cheap but no less bad-looking mess plates were introduced and the wooden square plates were discarded.    

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Mary Patten Captain of a Clipper

A remarkable woman, Mary Patten temporarily took command of a clippership in the 1850s. In July 1856, Neptune's Car left New York City for San Francisco. Captain Joshua Patten was in command and accompanying him was his wife, Mary, nineteen years old and pregnant. She had married at sixteen and had already been to sea on several voyages during which her husband had taught her how to navigate.

Mistrusting the first mate, the captain removed him from his position and took on his duties. As the ship was rounding Cape Horn, Captain Patten fell ill, his hearing and eyesight failing. Next in line for command was the second mate, but he could not navigate. Mary Patten assumed command, with the second mate's help and the support of the crew. Navigating and caring for her husband filled every moment; for fifty days she was unable to change clothes. The ship arrived in San Francisco November 1856. The insurers of the vessel rewarded her with one thousand dollars. Mary Patten and her husband returned to New York where she gave birth to a son. Sadly, her husband died three months later

Source

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Shipwreck, Northwest Coast of England, by Haughton Forrest (1826-1925)

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A Seaport, by Charles-François de Lacroix, c. 1760

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Ship's Doctor Chest, 19th century

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i haven't drawn a dragon in a while and needed to fix that

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Temeraire and Laurence, from Naomi Novik's Temeraire book series! I've only read the first three books, so no spoilers please!!!

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Royal Navy, the vs now.

From one of the largest combat fleets in the world, to barely above Southeast Asia-tier thanks to its 2 carriers and 4 nuclear ballistic missile submarines.

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Different worlds.

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Anequs and Kasaqua from the Nampeshiweisit series (To Shape a Dragon’s Breath) meet Laurence and Temeraire from the Temeraire series (His Majesty’s Dragon).

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grudge

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Rum set, consisting of a tub, casket, and measuring jugs, Royal Navy, c. 1936-52