Thursday Trivia

Re: Thursday Trivia

The USPS would deliver it "guaranteed" within the continental US within 2 working days for 44 cents.

Re: Thursday Trivia

I could answer this early, but I'd be stacking the decks too many times.

On the other hand, knowledge of what constitutes a "First Rate" ship of the line is more to the standards of the late 1700's to early 1800's, and may not be accurate for the question at hand.

Fred Nelson

Technology Historian and Woodworker,

(or maybe it should be Woodworker and Technology Historian)

Re: Does ....

greater than or equal to 100 have something to do with the answer? Thanks for the question

;-)

Re: ;-)

As Mr. Nelson pointed out the term referred to British ships. They were the outcome of the setting of the Line of Battle with a First Rate being the largest of ships with 80 or more guns, Second Rate was made up of the older better ships, while the Third Rate comprised the frigates of over 36 guns and the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Rate were other ships under 36 guns and only the First through Fourth were included as ships in the Line of Battle. Sloops, Corvettes, Brigs, Ketchs, and variations also fought, but were not considered as important as the rated ships. The rating system carried over to other nations as well but in different forms--still mostly based on size, number of decks, or firepower. The rating also indicated rank and social standing of the master of the ship and in typical British fashion, a First Rate Captain was always given preference to a Third Rate Captain. So the next time someone says that someone or something is Third Rate, it origianlly meant that there is something bigger, or older, or higher ranking--not necessarily that it is a bad thing.

Re: ;-)

Note that the reference to the rating of "Ships" refers specifically to ship-rigged vessels (defined as those vessels with three or more masts bearing square sails on all masts -- by that definition the USCG sailing vessel "Eagle" is not a ship, but rather a Brigentine, as it doesn't have square sails on its Mizzen mast). The other vessels mentioned, sloops, brigs, ketches, or schooners, all refer to their specific sail rig, having fore-and-aft sails, or combinations of square and fore-and-aft sails.

Further, at the time of the Napoleonic Wars, ships of the Royal Navy were also identified by the number of their main battery guns. For example, HMS Victory 100 (at the time of Trafalgar), or HMS Tonnant 84. Other rigs usually also listed their main battery armament, such as HMS Pickle 8, a square top-sail schooner in the British fleet at Trafalgar, that later brought news of the victory (and the loss of their Admiral) to England.

To avoid confusion, I've avoided mentioning the name of that particular Admiral -- before anyone asks, I am NOT related to him.

Fred Nelson

Under complete overcast in Eastern Missouri

See there

Isn't it great. Ask one question and get a lot of interesting info that is related. I always seem to learn a bit from all of the trivia questions.