The Naval Chronology of Great Britain

James Ralfe (fl. 1820-1829) was a historian best remembered for this comprehensive history of British naval involvement in the Napoleonic Wars. First published in 1820 and intended as a successor and continuation of Captain Isaac Schomberg's history of the navy, Naval Chronology, Ralfe's work is remarkably detailed, using first-hand accounts of naval engagements taken from interviews with officers and sailors in addition to contemporary official naval documents. Chronologically by year, Ralfe notes and explains major parliamentary proceedings relating to the navy, lists the serving flag officers for the given year, and describes naval battles and engagements, arranged according to location. The innovative structure of these volumes, with detailed descriptions of naval battles, provide a valuable reference for the study of the British navy during the Napoleonic Wars. Volume 1 covers 1803-1806.