The Mariner's Mirror Podcast

In this episode, we explore the great naval mutinies of 1797. This was during the French Revolutionary Wars, when Britain was fighting France at sea and relying heavily on the Royal Navy to maintain its power, security, trade routes, and global empire. But on British shores at a time when invasion of England seemed highly likely, the fleets mutinied at the great anchorages of Spithead and the Nore. The mutinies represent two of the most serious manifestations of collective resistance in eighteenth century Britain. It's a story set against a backdrop of tension and shifting loyalties. This isn't just the story of rebellion; it's a study of what happens when order begins to fracture from within. It's about what happens when people are driven to the edge and the choices they make under intense stress, when resistance and survival are intrinsically linked, like a ship and its keel. To find out more, Dr Sam Willis spoke with Callum Easton. He is the author of the brilliant book, The 1797 Naval Mutinies and Popular Protest in Britain which won the 2025 Sir Julian Corbett Prize in Modern Naval History. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hubert Sagnières studies, collects, and publishes works on early explorers and has himself completed numerous explorations: In 2024, he piloted a single-engine plane on a circumnavigation of the globe, honoring the centenary of the first around-the-world flight in 1924 by the Douglas “Chicago” aircraft. He has traveled in the Indonesian archipelago, visiting remote islands and has spent time with the Dayak tribes of Borneo and the Mentawai people of Siberut Island. He has completed over 20 expeditions to the Canadian Arctic, many in very harsh winter conditions and has explored many remote Arctic regions such as the shores of Baffin Island, Ellesmere Island, and Axel Heiberg Island. In this episode we discuss Hubert's latest book 'For Glory, Not Gold: Expeditions Through Arctic Lands 1818-1876', a remarkable volume which chronicles ten major Arctic expeditions undertaken between 1818 and 1875, following the bold journeys of explorers from the United States, England, Scotland, Ireland, and France. These seafaring pioneers ventured into the ice and the unknown in pursuit of the elusive Northwest Passage. Drawing from the original journals and travel narratives of figures such as Sir Edward Parry, Sir John Ross, Sir John Franklin, Joseph René Bellot, John Rae, Sir Francis Leopold McClintock, Elisha Kent Kane, Charles Francis Hall, and Sir George Nares—along with the legendary voyage of the HMS Investigator—the book offers an intimate, firsthand look at their extraordinary quests. It features illustrations, engravings, maps, and rare documents selected from the author’s own collection of historic works. More than a record of exploration, this volume reminds us that beyond the commercial ambitions tied to northern trade routes, the Arctic and the North Pole have long stirred the human imagination—calling forth the daring nineteenth-century expeditions of explorers driven by an unquenchable urge to discover new worlds. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Sam Willis continues our mini series on naval fiction, interviewing authors and finding out all about their naval creations. In this episode, we welcome David Davies, author of the acclaimed Matthew Quinton Journals, for an in-depth conversation about his Restoration-era naval hero and the richly layered world he sails through, one of the most fascinating and volatile eras in maritime history.Davies explores the major themes at the heart of Matthew Quinton’s adventures: a young gentleman thrust into command before he’s ready; the fragile, treacherous world of Restoration politics; the tension between new scientific thinking and old superstitions; and the clash of class, privilege, and professional seamanship aboard a 17th-century man-of-war. From sea monsters and omens that sailors once believed in, to the early sparks of the Enlightenment reshaping navigation and natural philosophy, the series captures a navy and a nation on the brink of modernity.We also dive into the challenges of writing naval fiction set in this extraordinary period: reconstructing a navy still reeling from civil war, capturing the chaos of early naval tactics, balancing historical accuracy with narrative pace, and bringing to life a world where honour and loyalty is never what it seems. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the final episode in our mini series on the rich maritime history of Malta Dr Sam Willis and Daisy Turnbull find themselves out in a boat in Valletta’s grand harbour, and this time we’re being treated to a culinary extravaganza: a meal that would have been eaten by Maltese corsairs. The Matese corsairs were a major ingredient in Maltese maritime history and cultural identity, embodying the island’s strategic role at the crossroads of the Mediterranean. Operating from Malta under the Knights of St. John, Maltese corsairs defended Christian shipping, disrupted Ottoman and North African naval power, and contributed to the island’s economy through privateering. Their exploits shaped Malta’s seafaring identity, blending military duty with maritime entrepreneurship, and left a lasting legacy in the island’s naval traditions and coastal fortifications. In this episode we experience a unique slant on this tale and are treated to a feast laid on by Taste History, a venture operated by Heritage Malta which offers food from the age of the enlightenment. Taste History offers culinary experiences that bring historical food and menus back to life using archival documents (recipe books, kitchen inventories, butcher bills) plus archaeological discoveries to inspire and inform their dishes, all made from seasonal ingredients and prepared by professional chefs dedicated to the art and science of recreating historical meals. The meal is complete with a variety of wines whose existence is proven in historical documents. Sam and Daisy discuss the history of corsairs and the food they would have eaten with Liam Gauci from Heritage Malta. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Order of St John was founded in the eleventh century in Jerusalem as a religious and military order dedicated to caring for sick and poor pilgrims in the Holy Land. How they ended up over 1000 miles away on an island in the middle of the Mediterranean, embedded in one of the greatest fortifications of the medieval world, is one of history's greatest maritime stories. In this episode, Dr Sam Willis and maritime historian Liam Gauci from Heritage Malta explore that history. They visit the Grand Master's Palace in Valletta and marvel at its armoury and frescoes depicting naval battles. They tell the story of how the Knights were granted Malta by Charles V in 1530, built a significant fleet and fortifications and then survived the Great Siege of 1565 when the Knights, outnumbered 40,000 to 12,000, successfully defended their island home against the Ottomans. The episode highlights the Knights' naval prowess, their influence on Mediterranean maritime history, and their contributions to Malta's social welfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the first episode in a new mini series on the rich and fascinating maritime history of Malta. The episode is recorded on a yacht in the centre of Valletta's historic Grand Harbour, at the opening of the Rolex Middle Sea Race, one of the world's most famous yacht races. Dr Sam Willis uncovers the history of the race and its magnificent historic surroundings with Liam Gauci from Heritage Malta, which safeguards Malta's many museums, historic sites and landmarks. They discuss the economic and strategic importance of the Grand Harbour, the fortified cities of Valletta and Birgu, and the mighty Fort St Elmo and Fort St Angelo. They explore the role of the Knights of St. John in shaping Malta's history. As the race gets underway with cannon fire from the historic battlements and the magnificent yachts sail past, they discuss the Rolex Middle Sea Race, which began in the 1960s in a fierce rivalry between British and Maltese sailors. It was designed as a major test of seamanship, the race starting and finishing in Valletta after a circumnavigation of Sicily, and all in the unstable weather of the Mediterranean Autumn. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Dr Sam Willis discusses the conservation of HMS Victory. As the flagship of Admiral Lord Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar, Victory holds immense historical and cultural significance, but preserving her is proving to be a monumental challenge.Simon Williams, who leads the ship’s conservation project 'HMS Victory: The Big Repair', shares the unexpected realities of working on the 260-year-old wooden vessel, including the discovery of extensive degradation. What began as a plan to replace six futtocks has grown into a massive effort to conserve 150 futtocks on the starboard side alone. With limited documentation from previous restorations, Simon explains how the team navigates risk management and decision-making in uncharted territory. Simon also discusses the delicate balance between public access and preservation, revealing how the team has had to repair structural elements while ensuring visitor safety and offering the public a rare opportunity to witness conservation in action. He reflects on the privilege of working on HMS Victory, and his fascination with the hidden stories embedded in the ship’s construction and maintenance. To ensure future generations can continue this work, the team is creating a detailed historical record of the conservation process - laying the foundation for informed maintenance and repair for years to come.Carolina Sophie Henham also offers a fascinating glimpse into the daily realities of conservation work, from managing water ingress to battling persistent pests like the 'Death Watch' beetle, which is notoriously resistant to traditional treatments and particularly fond of oak, HMS Victory’s primary timber. Carolina explains the difficulty of treating infestations without compromising the ship’s structure, and shares insights into the team’s ongoing research into sustainable pest control methods. She also discusses the innovative approaches being explored to protect this historic vessel.Tony Noon offers a behind-the-scenes tour of the conservation workshop at the National Museum of the Royal Navy in Portsmouth, revealing bays dedicated to tasks like laminating futtocks and carving ornate timbers. The space also houses materials and artefacts from other historic ships, showcasing the broader scope of maritime preservation. This episode offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at one of the most ambitious maritime conservation projects in recent years.This episode is supported by the Society for Nautical Research, the Save The Victory Fund (STVF) and the Lloyd's Register Foundation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Studying the history of safety at sea reveals how hard-earned lessons from past tragedies have shaped the protections we rely on today. For centuries, seafaring was one of the most dangerous human activities. Shipwrecks, storms, fires, and collisions claimed countless lives, often because of poor ship design, inadequate training, or the absence of regulations. By understanding this history, we see how each disaster spurred reforms—from better lifeboats and signalling systems to international safety standards. Time and again, loss of life at sea prompted innovations in navigation, weather forecasting, and shipbuilding. Its a history that highlights the human dimension of maritime safety, reminding us of the bravery of sailors, the grief of families, and the persistence of campaigners who demanded change. An important aspect of this are the living memories of those who served at sea. In this episode Dr Sam Willis speaks to two sailors who served on merchant ships all over the world, to hear their remarkable stories. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.