01 – The Royal Navy in the 19th Century

As an island nation, Britain relied on a powerful navy for defence, and the means to build her empire. At the beginning of the 19th century, the Royal Navy was the largest in the world.
“Hearts of Oak” wooden sailing ships, cutlass and cannon, and perhaps a degree of complacency after their victory at Trafalgar in 1805 over the combined fleets of France and Spain.

In 1859 that complacency was shaken when France launched La Gloire – an iron-clad ship with sails and steam.

Britain responded by building HMS Warrior in 1860 – the industrial revolution had taken to the waves.