Inside History Issue 10

FRANCIS AUSTEN
Sir Francis Austen was born (without
the title) in Steventon, Hampshire in 1774.
He was the fifth son of Revd. George
Austen and the older brother of Jane, who
would arrive the following year. In April
1786, just before his twelfth birthday,
Francis commenced his studies at the
Royal Naval Academy in Portsmouth.
These studies would cost his father
around £50 a year. And although this £50
was unquestionably a large sum at the
time – the Bank of England inflation
calculator suggests this would be in
excess of £8,000 now – joining the Royal
Navy was cheaper than other professions
considered suitable for boys in Francis’
social circles. Commissions in the Army
had to be purchased, for instance. So, for
this reason, and of course plenty of
others, young boys found themselves
launched into a seafaring career.
Nevertheless, in December of that year, it
seems young Francis was still able to
return to the rectory for Christmas. And
he excelled in his education at the
Academy, receiving a glowing
commendation when he left in 1788. He
then joined his first ship, HMS
Perseverance. However, this time, Francis
would not go home for Christmas. In fact,
he would not return to England for
nearly five years.
A life at sea during this time was
fraught with numerous hazards and
struggles. Not least that Francis’ career
ran parallel to the French Revolution
and subsequent Napoleonic Wars. But
many sailors also suffered, and lost
their lives, in consequence of accidents
and disease. The adequate provision
of food was a serious issue. In his later
career, Francis would experiment with
the best way of preserving cheese
during a voyage.
Yet, as the above paragraph suggests,
the distance from home and loved
ones cannot be forgotten. It’s played
out in the letters between Francis and
his own family. Before Francis left on
that first voyage, the Revd. Austen
wrote his teenage son a letter of on
conduct and conscience, as a guide for
all the time he would not be there to
advise him. It included an extortion to
write detailed letters home. But, again,
time and distance mattered. In
November 1798, Francis wrote in a
letter to Jane that he had had no post
from their family for ten weeks. In
October 1800, Jane received a letter
from him that had been written back in
July.
Francis’ life is a way to consider the
lives of officers more widely during this
period, and there were three further
things which played central and
defining roles in shaping naval
experiences: patronage, promotions
and prizes.
The traditional way of starting a boy’s
career in the Royal Navy was to secure
them a place aboard a ship, under the
patronage of its captain. This method
had endured in popularity, even after
the Academy (as attended by Francis)
had been founded as an alternative.
Having the right friends and relations
to secure this placement was naturally
beneficial. And as an officer’s career
progressed, advantageous connections
continued to act as the wind to the
sails for placements and promotions.
For example, long after his time at the
Academy – and only a few months
before the fateful Battle of Trafalgar –
Francis would hand a letter to Lord
Nelson, in which Lord Moira
recommended him for promotion.
26 INSIDE HISTORY