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HMS Beagle
HMS Beagle was a Royal Navy ship, famed for taking English naturalist Charles Darwin on his first expedition around the world in 1831
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Greek fire
Greek fire was a weapon used by the Byzantine Empire in naval warfare. It was effective as it continued to burn on water.
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Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots
The tides of peace turned for Queen Elizabeth I when Mary, Queen of Scots arrived in England. Read more about the two legendary queens.
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Life at sea in the age of sail
What did it mean to be 'tarred and feathered' and why were punishments so harsh at sea?
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Elizabeth I: marriage and succession
Concerns about who would succeed Queen Elizabeth I saw Parliament petition her to marry and produce an heir almost immediately.
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A nautical mile
The 'standard' nautical mile is taken as 6080 feet (1.151 statute miles or 1853 metres) and is the unit of length used in sea and air navigation.
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Symbolism in portraits of Queen Elizabeth I
Find out more about the Tudor symbols used in portraits of Queen Elizabeth I and discover what they mean
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Samuel Pepys and the Navy
Samuel Pepys, the famous 17th century British diarist, helped to establish the Navy and is often described as the father of the modern Royal Navy
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Robert Hooke: the man who knew everything
Neither the smallest nor the largest objects in the known Universe escaped the brilliant Hooke's attention.