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An Universal Dictionary of the Marine

Author William Falconer (1732 - 1769)

Printerfor T Cadell

Date1769

Object number00003611

NameBook

MediumInk on paper, boards

DimensionsOverall: 265 x 213 x 40 mm, 1.55 kg

ClassificationsBooks and journals

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionBook by William Falconer titled 'An Universal Dictionary of the Marine: or, A Copious Explanation of the Technical Terms and Phrases Employed in the Construction, Equipment, Furniture, Machinery, Movements, and Military Operations of a Ship. Illustrated with Variety of Original Designs of Shipping, in Different Situations; Together with Separate Views of their Masts, Sails, Yards, and Rigging. To Which is Annexed, a Translation of the French Sea-Terms and Phrases, Collected from the Works of Mess. Du Hamel, Aubin, Saverien, &c.' London: Printed for T Cadell (Successor to Mr Millar) in the Strand MDCCLXIXHistoryWilliam Falconer, a sailor, became known for his poem 'The Shipwreck' originally published in 1762 and was later amended and republished. 'The Shipwreck', while fiction, provides within its prose a very technical description of mid C18 merchant vessels with references and descriptions of the life of a merchant sailor in some detail. The poem also includes a number of navigational references and was published with supporting notes as to the various parts of a vessel. Falconer had been a survivor of a shipwreck the fictional account was in part based on his own experiences. After 'The Shipwreck' Falconer published 'An Universal Dictionary of the Marine' which built on Falconers work on the poem and provided alphabetical definitions of maritime terminology, data on technical aspects of shipbuilding and the Navy's administrative and operational practices. A celebrated reprint in 1815 includes revisions by the naval historian William Burney.SignificanceWilliam Falconer is well known for his influential Universal Dictionary of the Marine and his poem 'The Shipwreck', both of which include extensive technical information on C18 vessels. Falconer, having already survived one shipwreck himself, was later killed when the AURORA sank in 1769 whilst rounding the Cape of Good Hope.