Naval engagements : patriotism, cultural politics, and the Royal Navy, 1793-1815

The construction of an important element in British national identity is explored in Naval Engagements, looking at the ways in which the navy - a major symbol of national community - was given meaning by a range of social groupings. The study is at once a cultural history of national identity, a social history of naval commemoration, and a political history of struggles over patriotism. Examining the place that naval symbols occupied in British wartime political culture, Timothy Jenks argues that these were more relevant to patriotic discourse than the more commonly explored 'apotheosis' of the Hanoverian monarchs. He establishes the centrality of public images of admirals to the 'victory culture' and political experience of the day, tracing efforts by groups across the political spectrum to invest these figures with appropriate political capital and contemporary meaning. He engages with arguments concerning popular patriotism and the relative cohesiveness of British society. Most importantly, the book establishes the centrality of naval symbolism to the political culture of Georgian Britian. At the same time, it reveals the social practices and discourses that consistently interacted to delimit and restrain a variety of projects ostensibly designed to foster patriotism and national identity. Patriotism was contested, this study argues, rather than consensual, and British national identity in the period was contingent, an ambivalence crucial to the manner in which naval symbols functioned. The Construction Of An Important Element In British National Identity Is Explored In Naval Engagements, Looking At The Ways In Which The Navy - A Major Symbol Of National Community - Was Given Meaning By A Range Of Social Groupings. The Book Is At Once A Cultural History Of National Identity, A Social History Of Naval Commemoration, And A Political History Of Struggles Over Patriotism. Examining The Place That Naval Symbols Occupied In British Wartime Political Culture, Timothy Jenks Argues That These Were More Relevant To Patriotic Discourse Than The More Commonly Explored 'apotheosis' Of The Hanoverian Monarchs. He Establishes The Centrality Of Public Images Of Admirals To The 'victory Culture' And Political Experience Of The Day, Tracing Efforts By Groups Across The Political Spectrum To Invest These Figures With Appropriate Political Capital And Contemporary Meaning. He Engages With Arguments Concerning Popular Patriotism And The Relative Cohesiveness Of British Society. Most Importantly, The Book Establishes The Importance Of Naval Symbolism To The Political Culture Of Georgian Britain. At The Same Time, It Reveals The Social Practices And Discourses That Consistently Interacted To Delimit And Restrain A Variety Of Projects Ostensibly Designed To Foster Patriotism And National Identity.--jacket. 1. The 'glorious Firsts Of June' -- 2. Patriotic Instabilities -- 3. Naval Triumph And The Public Sphere -- 4. Contesting Naval Heroism -- 5. Lord Cochrane In Radical Westminster -- App. 1. Members Of Parliament For Westminster, 1790-1818 -- App. 2. Published Trafalgar Poems. Timothy Jenks. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [305]-324) And Index. The construction of an important element in British national identity is explored in Naval Engagements , looking at the ways in which the navy - a major symbol of national community - was given meaning by a range of social groupings. The study is at once a cultural history of national identity, a social history of naval commemoration, and a political history of struggles over patriotism. Examining the place that naval symbols occupied in British wartime political culture, Timothy Jenks argues that these were more relevant to patriotic discourse than the more commonly explored 'apotheosis' of the Hanoverian monarchs. He establishes the centrality of public images of admirals to the 'victory culture' and political experience of the day, tracing efforts by groups across the political spectrum to invest these figures with appropriate political capital and contemporary meaning. He engages with arguments concerning popular patriotism and the relative cohesiveness of British society. Most importantly, the book establishes the centrality of naval symbolism to the political culture of Georgian Britain. At the same time, it reveals the social practices and discourses that consistently interacted to delimit and restrain a variety of projects ostensibly designed to foster patriotism and national identity. Patriotism was contested, this study argues, rather than consensual, and British national identity in the period was contingent, an ambivalence crucial to the manner in which naval symbols functioned. ISBN-13: 9780199297719 Contents 10 List of Illustrations 11 Introduction 12 1. The ‘Glorious Firsts of June’ 38 2. Patriotic Instabilities 87 3. Naval Triumph and the Public Sphere 135 4. Contesting Naval Heroism 194 5. Lord Cochrane in Radical Westminster 258 Conclusion 302 Appendix 1. Members of Parliament for Westminster, 1790–1818 313 Appendix 2. Published Trafalgar poems 314 Bibliography 316 Index 336 A 336 B 336 C 336 D 337 E 338 F 338 G 338 H 338 I 339 J 339 K 339 L 339 M 340 N 341 O 342 P 342 R 343 S 343 T 344 V 344 W 345 Y 345 # Publisher: Oxford University Press,USA # Number Of Pages: 352 # Publication Date: 2006-12-04 Naval Engagements explores the role of the Royal Navy in eighteenth-century political culture. This was the legendary age of sail, in which heroic commanders such as Admiral Nelson won great victories for Britain. Timothy Jenks reveals the ways in which these battles and the heroes who fought them were deployed in British politics. - ;The construction of an important element in British national identity is explored in Naval Engagements, looking at the ways in which the navy - a major symbol of national community - was given meaning by a range of social groupings. The study is at once a cultura