A sailor’s life under four sovereigns, Volume 1 (of 3)

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About this book

"A sailor''s life under four sovereigns, Volume 1 (of 3)" by Sir Henry Keppel is a naval memoir written in the late 19th century. It recounts the author’s early life and long Royal Navy career, blending lively anecdote with first-hand glimpses of global cruising, naval culture, and political events. Expect portraits of ships, shipmates, and admirals; scenes from Madeira to Rio, the West Indies, Mexico, and back; and encounters with figures like Lord Cochrane amid Brazilian independence. The tone is brisk, humorous, and observant, with an eye for both seamanship and society. The opening of the memoir traces Keppel from a perilous infancy and mischievous schooldays in Norfolk to the Royal Naval College and his first commission.