Captain Frederick Marryat (1792 – 1848) was a British naval officer and novelist. He is considered one of the first writers of the sea story, although his best-known children’s book, The Children of the New Forest, is what sailors would call a ‘dry land tale.’ He’s also known as the inventor of a kind of lifeboat and a popular system of signalling with flags, known as Marryat’s code, which is used by ships.
Marryat was born in London. His father Joseph was a wealthy merchant and an MP, and his mother, Charlotte, was German. Perhaps she gave him the love of other places from an early age. After trying to run away to sea several times, Marryat was allowed to join the Navy in 1806, as a midshipman. He was just 14 years old. His experiences at sea, which included rescuing fellow sailors at least three times, inspired many of his books, and these in turn inspired American writer Mark Twain to write about life on his own favourite body of water, the Mississippi River.
The Pollard Collection has several editions of Marryat’s books, including the popular sea-story Masterman Ready, written in 1841. Click on this romantic engraving from the first edition (above) to read the book, and don’t forget your life-jacket!
Tarry at home - and travel in books! 
It is really interesting to read about Marryat. I didn’t realise that as well as being a writer he also invented a form of lifeboat. It is also interesting to read that he inspired Twain’s epic journey story on the river.
Catherine says: Thanks for your comment, Sine! Sorry, I inadvertently wiped your details so your comment looks as though it came from me. Do write in again!