The Nautical Magazine and Naval Chronicle for 1839

The Nautical Magazine first appeared in 1832, and was published monthly well into the twenty-first century. It covers a wide range of subjects, including navigation, meteorology, technology and safety. An important resource for maritime historians, it also includes reports on military and scientific expeditions and on current affairs. The 1839 volume includes coverage of the competition for the design of a Nelson memorial. It reveals that the editor was unimpressed with the shortlist and strongly disliked the eventual winner, which still stands in Trafalgar Square. Other topics include naval promotions, births, marriages and deaths, a short history of Antarctic exploration timed to coincide with the departure of the Ross expedition, reports of anti-slavery measures, and analysis of steamship accidents and their causes. The volume also continues the editor’s campaign for lightning conductors on board all Navy vessels, a measure finally implemented in 1869, and provides information about new lighthouses.