John Parr's letters

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Until summer 2025, there is a new visitor route at the National Maritime Museum while we carry out essential improvements to the Museum's roof. Most galleries will still be open as normal, and special exhibitions are currently free for all visitors. However, the Great Map and AHOY! will be closed for the duration of the works. Find out more.

Essential Information

Location	National Maritime Museum

01 Oct 2007

October's item of the month is a series of letters written by John Parr, an ordinary 'Jack Tar' who served in the navy in the early 19th century. Much like the letters of Susannah Middleton, they offer an insight an insight into a young man’s life during the height of the Napoleonic war. The story starts in London, where John was apprenticed in 1801. At some point in 1803 however, he was taken by a press gang and entered into the navy... What happened next? Read the full article here

Renée (Digital Resources Librarian)