Archaic word of the day: forfend - avert, fend off, or prevent; forbid (First recorded in 1350; from the Middle English word forfenden) #englishlanguage #history #medievalsky

On this day in 1745, the French fortress of Louisbourg surrenders to a combined force of New England soldiers commanded by William Pepperell and a small Royal Navy squadron led by Commodore Peter Warren. Louisbourg was ceded back to France under the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748 #NavalHistory

Archaic word of the day: forby(e) – besides; near; nearby (First recorded in 1200; Middle English forbi, meaning 'past in space or time') #englishlanguage #history #medievalsky

On this day in #History, June 25, 1876 – the Battle of the Little Bighorn was fought, ending in the death of George Armstrong Custer and a Native American victory. #OTD #montana Historygonewilder.com

Archaic word of the day: flux - diarrhea or dysentery (First recorded in 1350; from Latin fluxus 'a flowing') #englishlanguage #history #medievalsky

Active in the Indian Ocean from 1692 to 1699, Robert Culliford was first a friend and then a foe of Captain Kidd. waynesavage.com/robert-culli... #piratehistory #pirates #history

#OTD #CivilWar #MaritimeHistory news - Rebel privateer Tacony goes "fox in the henhouse" in New England waters.

Archaic word of the day: fizgig - a frivolous or flirtatious young woman (First recorded in 1520) #englishlanguage #history #Tudor

So what is a ketch? #maritimehistory #history #piratehistory

#OtD 23 Jun 1751 Gregoria Apaza Nina, Indigenous Aymara rebel leader, was born in Bolivia. She led a major Indigenous revolt, against Spanish colonial rule in the country. More on Native American resistance in this book: shop.workingclasshistory.com/collections/...

Archaic word of the day: fishwife - a woman who sells fish; a coarse-mannered, vulgar-tongued woman (First recorded in 1375; from the late Middle English word 'fisshwyf ') #englishlanguage #history #medievalsky

#Onthisday In 1819, HMS Kite chased the steamship SS Savannah for three hours off #Ireland, believing she was on fire. After firing warning shots and boarding her, the crew discovered the "fire" was simply smoke from her steam engine. New technology at the time #Maritime #History #Ships #RoyalNavy

Archaic word of the day: filibeg - the kilt worn by Scottish Highlanders (First recorded in 1740; from Scots Gaelic) (not sure if this word is still used in Scotland) #englishlanguage #history #c18th

I was recently a guest on Based on a True Story Podcast with Dan Lefebvre to talk about Season 1 of "The Terror." We discuss fact versus fiction of the Franklin Expedition, as depicted in the series. It had a blast! shipwrecksandseadogs.com/121 #maritimehistory #Terror #Franklin

Archaic word of the day: fie – an exclamation used to express disgust or outrage; an exclamation of distaste or mock dismay (First recorded in 1250; Middle English 'fi') #englishlanguage #history #medievalsky

An action-packed pirate adventure that was definitely written with a Hollywood movie in mind. #piratehistory #pirates #history #historybookchat

#OTD On June 17, 1579, Sir Francis Drake anchored the Golden Hinde in Drakes Bay, California. Reminded of Dover's white cliffs, he named the land Nova Albion and claimed it for Queen Elizabeth I as an English foothold in the new world. #history #britishhistory #maritimehistory

Archaic word of the day: fell - an animal skin; a pelt (First recorded in the early Middle Ages; Old Norse -fjall, as in berfjall 'bearskin'; Latin pellis 'skin, hide') #englishlanguage #history #medievalsky

An interesting look at several very different pirate ships. #piratehistory #pirates #history

Under Fire Off Manhattan by British marine artist Geoff Hunt One of his series showing a scene from the War of 1812 #Warof1812 #USNavy #RoyalNavy

Archaic word of the day: fane - a shrine or temple; a church (First recorded in 1350; from Latin fānum, meaning temple or sanctuary) #englishlanguage #history #medievalsky

Between the 12-14 June 1667 the Dutch raid on the Medway reached its zenith with fire ships going in under the cover of frigates. The Ships on Gillingham water were burnt, the Royal Charles (the King’s flagship) was taken and the Royal James burnt and sunk. #otd #navalhistory #history #chatham 🇳🇱

Archaic word of the day: fainéant - a lazy, idle or ineffective person; (adjective) idle or indolent (Pronounced 'fey-nee-uhnt'; first recorded in 1610; from Old French faignant meaning 'idler') #englishlanguage #history #17thc

10 June 1695 (O.S.) // 24-gun HMS Falcon was captured by two French privateers off Lizard Point after a chase and running fight. Her captain, Henry Middleton, was reprimanded and fined by the Court Martial for not running the damaged Falcon ashore rather than surrendering. #RoyalNavy #NavalHistory

Archaic word of the day: fain - pleased or willing under the circumstances; eager; obliged (First recorded in the early Middle Ages; Old English fægen; cognate with Old Norse feginn, meaning 'happy') #englishlanguage #history #medievalsky

#otd 1667 de Ruyter’s squadron successfully took the defences on the Isle of Sheppey. The first stage of the #Medway raid was complete though English ships under Sir Edward Spragge were outnumbered and outgunned and forced to withdraw towards Chatham… #history #navalhistory

PRACTICAL NAVIGATION 1807 MARITIME SEA SHIPS LONGITUDE PLANETS MAPS Moore #books #antiquarian #navigation #maritime #sea #ships #trade #laws #duties #slavetrade #longitude #stars #maps #history #18thcentury #bookauction bit.ly/49ME5pY

Archaic word of the day: excogigate - plot, plan, devise; to think out in detail (First recorded in 1520; from Latin excōgitātus) #englishlanguage #history

Laurent de Graff, the dashing French buccaneer who attacked the English colony of Jamaica on several occasions in the 17th century. More at waynesavage.com/laurens-de-g... #piratehistory #pirates #history #maritimehistory #17thced

#OTD 8 Junr 1800 off Cap de Gata in Spain the Danish-Norwegian frigate HAVFRUEN (40 guns) under Cdr Jost van Dockum denies the Royal Navy frigates HMS SHEERNES (44 guns), HMS SENSIBLE (32 guns) & HMS RESOURCE (28 guns) visitation of its convoy #navalhistory

Archaic word of the day: esurient – extremely hungry, greedy, voracious (First recorded in 1665; from Latin ēsurīre) #englishlanguage #history #17thc

#OTD On June 6, 1762, British forces launched a massive amphibious assault and siege on the Spanish-held port of Havana, Cuba, during the Seven Years War. The strategic operation involved over 200 ships and nearly 30,000 personnel, culminating in the city's surrender in August #history #navalhistory

Archaic word of the day: espousal - an engagement or betrothal celebration; a marriage ceremony (First recorded in 1275; Old French espousailles from Latin spōnsālia) #englishlanguage #history #medievalsky

3 June 1853 // HMS Investigator, a former merchantman purchased by the Royal Navy to search for Franklin's lost Northwest Passage expedition, was abandoned on this date after being trapped for nearly 3 years in pack ice off Banks Island, northwest Canada. Her sunken wreck was found in 2010. [1/2]

Ever wonder why we knock on wood? The habit has deep roots. Ancient Europeans believed trees housed spirits. You would knock on the trunk to thank friendly spirits for good luck, or to drown out the tricksters so they couldn't ruin your plans. #History #Superstition #Folklore #KnockingOnWood

Archaic word of the day: erewhile - until now; a short time ago; a little while before (First recorded in 1250) #englishlanguage #history #medievalsky

From Algiers to the Caribbean to the South Seas. A trilogy of books by Tim Severin following the adventures of Hector Lynch. Well researched. Well worth the read. #pirates #history #historybookchat

2 June 1805 // At Martinique in the Caribbean, HMS Diamond Rock surrendered after a battle lasting three days to a French force of two ships of the line, three smaller warships and eleven gunboats. Her powder and water were exhausted, and she had two men killed and several wounded. [1/2]

Archaic word of the day: erelong - before long; soon (First recorded in 1570) #englishlanguage #history

#OtD 2 Jun 1863 the Combahee River raid took place, Harriet Tubman led 150 Black Union soldiers. The only woman-led military operation during the American civil war. 750 slaves were freed and the estates of several slaveowners were looted and burned stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/9200...

Callum Easton’s monograph "The 1797 Naval Mutinies and Popular Protest in Britain: Negotiation through Collective Action" (2025) argues the sailors weren’t revolutionaries but early collective bargainers fighting for fair pay. A fresh take on the history of the British Royal Navy. #maritimehistory

Archaic word of the day: enow – an archaic word for enough (First recorded around 1050; Middle English 'inow', Old English 'genōg') #englishlanguage #history #medievalsky

Over 900 pounds of ghost net removed from the bay, protecting marine life and restoring our oceans. Every effort counts in the fight against marine pollution.

Archaic word of the day: endlong – lengthwise; lengthways or on end (First recorded in 1175; Old English andlong, meaning 'along') #englishlanguage #history #medievalsky

The Battle of Haarlemmermeer was a naval clash on 26 May 1573 during the Dutch Revolt. Spanish and Amsterdam forces under Bossu fought Dutch Geuzen under Marinus Brandt, who were trying to relieve Haarlem. After hours of fighting, the Geuzen retreated. #history #navalbattle #navalhistory

"Calais Pier" is an 1803 painting of the important French port of Calais by British artist J. M. W. Turner. Thomas Paine arrived at the port in September of 1792 fleeing his impending arrest in England for seditious libel after he published Rights of Man. See more at thomaspaine.org/gallery/thom...

Archaic word of the day: eke - in addition; also; likewise (First recorded in the early Middle Ages; Middle English 'eek', Old English 'ēc'; cognate with German 'auch') #englishlanguage #history #medievalsky

Martha's Vineyard - the Mattapoisett at Osborn's Wharf, Edgartown, in 1886 by British marine artist John Stobart. The late John Stobart specialised in producing meticulously researched harbour scenes, mostly of American ports. #Sea #Tallships #Ageofsail

medium.com/the-story-we... Ching Shih, the Pirate Who Outsmarted Empires. How one woman turned chaos into control on the open sea. #ChingShih #pirates #medium #China #historical #history #blog #article