At the turn of the centuries : an anniversary portrait of the marines in the Royal Navy of 1700, 1800, 1900 and after

"The year 2000 marks the fourth turn of the century since the creation of a maritime regiment in 1664. The first turn, in 1700, found the maritime regiments in the throes of disbandment following peace-time defence cuts. Shortage of funds and poor accounting prolonged the process and left some officers imprisoned for debt. At the next turn, in 1800, there were some 20,000 marines. With the French and Spanish fleets bottled up in their ports, after being severely mauled at Cape St Vincent and the Nile, the Fleet marines were engaged in raids and land battles from Brittany to Egypt. To John Jervis, Earl St Vincent, their prime value was to ensure loyalty and discipline within his Channel Fleet. The year 1900 found the Royal Navy again in the ascendancy and some 20,000 marines were now essential to the manning of the main armament in the expanding Battle Fleet. In the wars of that year, however, while there was no challenge to British supremacy at sea, the contribution of sailors and marines in the land battles with Boers and 'Boxers' was crucial."--Provided by the publisher.