ship-of-the-line

Updated: May 13, 2025

The marine guard, of near a hundred men, was paraded on board every ship-of-the-line. The national anthem was played, the scarlet-clad guard presented, and all officers and crews stood bareheaded, as the flag with measured dignity rose slowly to the staff-head. Lord St. Vincent himself made a point of attending always, and in full uniform; a detail he did not require of other officers.

A. T. (Alfred Thayer) Mahan - Types of Naval Officers: Drawn from the History of the British Navy

One Spanish ship-of-the-line was blown up and six struck, among them the flag-ship of Admiral Langara, who was taken into Gibraltar. Only four escaped. Two such strokes of mingled good fortune and good management, within ten days, formed a rare concurrence, and the aggregate results were as exceptional as the combination of events.

A. T. (Alfred Thayer) Mahan - Types of Naval Officers: Drawn from the History of the British Navy