A Sailor of King George: From Midshipman to Captain-Recollections of War at Sea in the Napoleonic Age 1793-1815

These are the riveting recollections of an officer of the Royal Navy-Nelson's navy-in the first years of the nineteenth century, through the long wars with Britain's ancient enemy Spain and the France of the Revolution, Consulate and of the newly crowned Emperor Napoleon. Hoffman was a seaman who could inspire aspects of the Hornblower character. Hoffman's was a naval career full of incident and action. Joining the navy in 1793 he served in HMS Blonde and HMS Hannibal in action off Martinique and in the Channel. He was engaged in eighteen fierce boat actions before being promoted to lieutenant of HMS Volage where he saw further action against privateers off Cuba. After serving on the Monitor he was posted to the famous HMS Tonnant and it was aboard her that fought at Trafalgar-the greatest sea battle of the age. This remarkable sailor's career continued on many ships voyages and actions too numerous to recount here. It is enough to remark that everyone interested in the Royal Navy during the great days of sail will find much pleasure within these pages.