Dr Lee-Jane Giles
@lee-jane.bsky.social
Historian studying 18th century Marine Corps. Also interested in duelling, mutiny & piracy - there may be a theme!
An amazing sky over our house early this morning.
November 17, 2025 at 4:34 PM
An amazing sky over our house early this morning.
Tonight’s moon over north Cornwall - taken from our garden gate
November 6, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Tonight’s moon over north Cornwall - taken from our garden gate
Been reading up on when sailors became a distinct profession and of course it’s meant reading some Roman texts. Came across this from Cicero about founding of Rome and why it was not placed by sea: ‘…maritime cities also suffer a certain corruption & degeneration of morals; …
October 2, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Been reading up on when sailors became a distinct profession and of course it’s meant reading some Roman texts. Came across this from Cicero about founding of Rome and why it was not placed by sea: ‘…maritime cities also suffer a certain corruption & degeneration of morals; …
New adventures! New job! Back to school!
September 1, 2025 at 1:35 PM
New adventures! New job! Back to school!
The other half went for a themed cake for my birthday this year!
May 28, 2025 at 10:28 AM
The other half went for a themed cake for my birthday this year!
Finally getting around to unpacking the cat…
May 11, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Finally getting around to unpacking the cat…
John just about to be abducted by aliens…
April 30, 2025 at 5:07 PM
John just about to be abducted by aliens…
Casper has met the new neighbours!
April 19, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Casper has met the new neighbours!
It’s moving day and this is the new view from the kitchen sink window!
April 12, 2025 at 2:25 PM
It’s moving day and this is the new view from the kitchen sink window!
Well, I guess the packing is done!
March 27, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Well, I guess the packing is done!
November 1758. Extract of letter from Capt Tyrell (HMS Buckingham) after battle with French: ‘Capt Troy […] at the head of his Marines, performed the Service of a brave and gallant officer’ cleared the Poop & Quarter Deck of the Florissant & drove the French like ‘Sheep down upon their Main Deck’
June 5, 2024 at 6:37 PM
November 1758. Extract of letter from Capt Tyrell (HMS Buckingham) after battle with French: ‘Capt Troy […] at the head of his Marines, performed the Service of a brave and gallant officer’ cleared the Poop & Quarter Deck of the Florissant & drove the French like ‘Sheep down upon their Main Deck’
Spending my lunch hour in the library with this chap looming over my reading table!
March 21, 2024 at 12:49 PM
Spending my lunch hour in the library with this chap looming over my reading table!
Marine officer recounts action 1798 in Battle of Nile: ‘if you look over the returns of all naval actions…you will find the marines suffer in much greater proportion than the rest; here in the poop we are so exposed & then the colour of the cloth, red, attractive mark to shot’
January 18, 2024 at 1:11 PM
Marine officer recounts action 1798 in Battle of Nile: ‘if you look over the returns of all naval actions…you will find the marines suffer in much greater proportion than the rest; here in the poop we are so exposed & then the colour of the cloth, red, attractive mark to shot’
Marine officer recounts tale he heard from R. C. Reynolds (Commander f Amazon) of action by Amazon & Indefatigable against French warship Droits de l’Homme in 1797: ‘we fastened like bull dogs upon the haunches of the great 74…& worried her for 5 hours’
December 5, 2023 at 8:17 AM
Marine officer recounts tale he heard from R. C. Reynolds (Commander f Amazon) of action by Amazon & Indefatigable against French warship Droits de l’Homme in 1797: ‘we fastened like bull dogs upon the haunches of the great 74…& worried her for 5 hours’
Marine officer writing of return to Plymouth after months at sea (1800s): ‘who has not seen soft Plymouth, the gem of the west, & it’s swelling bosom at Mount Edgecumbe, & Cawsand Bay, & the Sound, & it’s deepening beauties down the harbour, & Mount Wise, & it’s merry shore?’
November 27, 2023 at 8:30 AM
Marine officer writing of return to Plymouth after months at sea (1800s): ‘who has not seen soft Plymouth, the gem of the west, & it’s swelling bosom at Mount Edgecumbe, & Cawsand Bay, & the Sound, & it’s deepening beauties down the harbour, & Mount Wise, & it’s merry shore?’
1805 anecdote concerning ‘fictitious rating’ on board ship: a marine and sailor were crossing the admirals paddock at Plymouth & 2 horses grazing there. The sailor throws a stone at 1 of the horses. The marine says ‘My eyes, Jack, ‘don’t pelt that poor fellow he’s rated quartermaster on our ship’
November 7, 2023 at 8:13 AM
1805 anecdote concerning ‘fictitious rating’ on board ship: a marine and sailor were crossing the admirals paddock at Plymouth & 2 horses grazing there. The sailor throws a stone at 1 of the horses. The marine says ‘My eyes, Jack, ‘don’t pelt that poor fellow he’s rated quartermaster on our ship’
Took the youngest for a bit of a wander around Gloucester Cathedral - called in just in time to hear Evensong.
November 5, 2023 at 6:32 PM
Took the youngest for a bit of a wander around Gloucester Cathedral - called in just in time to hear Evensong.
Reading a source from 1804 written by a Marine - in it he describes Portsmouth as having ‘within its iron walls, some of the most beautiful women I ever remember to have seen, & whom the witches of Lancashire […] have never outshone’
October 31, 2023 at 7:59 AM
Reading a source from 1804 written by a Marine - in it he describes Portsmouth as having ‘within its iron walls, some of the most beautiful women I ever remember to have seen, & whom the witches of Lancashire […] have never outshone’