There were two major mutinies by sailors of the Royal Navy in 1797. There was also discontent and minor incidents on ships in other location in the same year. The mutinies were potentially dangerous for the United Kingdom because at the time the UK was at war with France. There were also concerns among some members of the British the ruling class that the mutinies might be the trigger a wider uprising similar to the French Revolution.
Admiral Lord Howe negotiated an agreement that saw a Royal Pardon for all crews, together with a pay rise and better living conditions. Afterwards the mutiny was to become nicknamed "breeze at Spithead,".
Mutiny at the Nore 12 May to 13 June, 1797
Discontent among sailors at the Nore lead to a mutiny, with Richard Parker, a former officer, as their spokesman. The mutineers expanded their initial grievance about living conditions into the beginnings of a social revolution. The mutiny failed. Parker was hanged from the yardarm, and many others leading co-conspirators were punished
Other mutinies and discontent in 1797
Similar movements took place on the coast of Ireland and at the Cape of Good Hope. The spirit spread to the fleet under Admiral Jervis off the coast of Spain
The mutinies were potentially dangerous for the United Kingdom because at the time the UK was at war with the Revolutionary government in France.
Inspired by the example of their comrades at Spithead, the mutiny at the Nore (an anchorage in the Thames Estuary) began on 12 May when the crew of the Sandwich seized control of the ship, one notorious for its vile conditions.
In September 1797, the crew of the Hermione mutinied in the West Indies, killing almost all the officers in revenge for the flinging into the sea of two men who had broken their limbs falling from the rigging in a desperate scramble to avoid flogging for being last man down on deck.
Mutiny is the crime of conspiring to disobey an order that a group of similarly-situated individuals (typically members of the military; or the crew of any ship, even if they are civilians) is legally obliged to obey.
While many mutinies were carried out in response to backpay and/or poor conditions within the military unit or on the ship, some, such as the Connaught Rangers mutiny and the Wilhelmshaven mutiny, were part of larger movements or revolutions.
The Mutiny Act legislated for offences in respect of which death or penal servitude could be awarded, and the Articles of War, while repeating those provisions of the act, constituted the direct authority for dealing with offences for which imprisoument was the maximum punishment as well as with many matters relating to trial and procedure.
Feeds |
Contact