The Life and Adventures of John Nicol, Mariner

by John Nicol, Tim Flannery (Editor)

This work renders the story of a man whom history has nearly forgotten. In his many voyages the Scottish-born sailor John Nicol twice circumnavigated the globe, visiting every inhabited continent and participating in many of the greatest events of exploration and adventure in the 18th century.

Genres: History, Memoir, Biography, Nonfiction, Travel, Maritime, Adventure

208 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1999

Reviews

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful little book, that deserves to be far better known than it is. In early 19th century Edinburgh, a man named John Howell made a habit of recording the life stories of military men and adventurers, and it is thanks to him that today we can read the amazing tale of John Nicol, who circumnavigated the world twice, sailed the Pacific coast of the American continent from Nootka Sound to Cape Horn, was in China 3 times, fought the French as a sailor in Nelson's fleet, met the Hawaiians who killed Captain Cook, hunted whales off Greenland, and much more. Nicol was in his own words, a simple "bungs" (i.e. a cooper). It is so rare to hear the voice of an ordinary man from this period, and Nicol's tale provides fascinating insights into the lives of ordinary people in the late 18th century.

As examples, in St.John's, Newfoundland, he comments that "At this time the greater part of the fishers were Irishmen, the wildest characters man can conceive...Their quarrelling and fighting never ceased." He continues that it was unsafe to go out after dark and that "The respectable inhabitants are thus kept under a sort of bondage to this riotous race." In China the people were "the most oppressed people I ever was amongst. They must want even a wife if they are not rich enough to pay the tax imposed by the mandarin." Adding to the enjoyment of reading the book is the fact that Nicol comes over as thoroughly likeable, even something of an innocent. Although not totally free of the attitudes prevailing at the time, he is open and tolerant, and identifies with the underdog in a way that is very attractive to the modern reader. In seeing the treatment of slaves in the Caribbean he comments "No stranger can witness the cruelty unmoved" and relates how he and his friend George Innes came across an overseer flogging a woman who was "big with child...George ran to him and gave him a good beating, and swore he would double the gift if he laid another lash upon her." In describing the Hawaiian Islands he relates "Even now I would prefer them to any country I was ever in. The people so kind and obliging, the climate so fine and provisions so abundant..."

After 25 years at sea Nicol returned to Edinburgh and married at the age of forty-six. Almost at once though he was forced to flee inland as war had broken out again and, as an experienced sailor, Nicol was being hunted by the notorious press gang. For an astonishing 11 years he lived as a fugitive and yet remained fiercely loyal to the British Government. "I had broken His Majesty's bread for 14 years and would not, on that account, hear His Government spoken against."

Howell came across Nicol on the streets of Edinburgh when, reduced to extreme poverty, Nicol was collecting fragments of coal that had fallen between the cobbles, that he would use to light a fire. The story has a happy ending, since Howell turned over the book royalties to Nicol, who was able to live out his last years in comfort.

Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in social history.

[Walt · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like narratives of early maritime voyages, you will enjoy this work. John Nicol (1755-1825) sailed on a number of British ships between 1776 and 1801. His writings were recently rediscovered and edited by Tim Flannery, Director of the South Australian Museum in Adelaide. Especially enjoyable is a chapter on transporting women prisoners from London to Botany Bay, Australia; any one of the women's stories could be the basis of a fascinating book or motion picture.

[Chrissie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I cannot decide how many stars to give this book! Yes, it is amazing that there even exists a book about an ordinary person's life back in the latter half of the 1700s. It's amazing how much he travelled (twice around the globe). Here is an unpretentious, nice guy who simply adores travelling, seeing new places, learning about his world. And he did no much - took part in the naval battles fought by Britain when America sought independence and also the naval battles following the French Revolution. He fought against the Spanish, he fought off of Egypt, was stationed in Malta and more. He was on the ship Juliana that took women conscripts to Australia and fell head over heels in love with one of theses women. He visited China, Canton, so many times that he could say that he went and visited his Chinese friends again! He saves a Chinese boy from drowning and subsequently gets invited into Chinese homes. He was in Hawai immediately after Captain Cooks visit there. He danced and ate and drank with Hawaian women. He is stuck in Artic ice, and although I have read whole books about how terrible this is - he sums it up in one beautiful paragraph. The book doesn't need editing. It is short and quick and to the point. It is really quite amazing. The maps in the paperback version totally suck, so get out your atlas. Nevertheless 5 stars feels wrong, and even 4 stars too. So it gets 3 - but you SHOULD read the book. This book fills me with surprise, rather than engagement, and I like to be engaged. I have a hunch that it is because the book is of "another era" that it doesn't get more stars, and honestly that isn't fair. No, it gets 4 stars.

[Sharon Robards · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a gem and the only known account of the Lady Juliana, which brought 200 plus convict women to Australia after the first fleet. John Nicols fell in love on board with Sarah Whitlam, a convict who had his son before the ship arrived in Australia. Separated at gun point shortly after arrival in Australia, John Nicols would spend the next decade trying to be reunited with Sarah and their son.

For anyone who finishes this and wonders what Sarah’s side of the story is, a great follow up to read is The Floating Brothel: The Extraordinary True Story of an Eighteenth-Century Ship and Its Cargo of Female Convicts

[Helen Blunden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent account of a mariner and his adventures around the world. It's a glimpse into the life and world of being out at sea from 1776-1801 in the author's own words (his stories were written by someone who wanted to capture the stories of these "veterans" as they were forgotten by society. John Nicol born in 1755 (a year younger than Bligh), press ganged into service. Served in the War of Independence and then went to Greenland, West Indies, South Pacific, China and then also came out to the colony in Australia in the second fleet. Amazing life.

[Steve Sanderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wooden ships and iron men

The personal account of a Scottish ship’s cooper in the late 18th century. Adventure, exotic ports, impressment, and the observations of a sensitive soul on the sea. Thanks to Tim Flannery for bringing this back to the reader. And, here’s to “Bungs,” as the cooper was called.

[Chris Maska · Rating 5 out of 5]

A true traveler's tale

The life of a common sailor who fought in the Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars. In addition, he participated in several commercial voyages. He was part of great events, lived through them, and by good fortune was able to record them. A unique window on the time the modern world was formed.

[Peter C · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Wonderful Discovery

I happened upon this one day in looking for new stories. Since I am particularly interested in adventure and travel , I thought it would be fascinating to hear about sea life during this time period.

It is almost impossible to imagine what life was like during this era. Much more so as a sailor.

Very educational and enjoyable.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicol is one of those incredibly rare people who retains a sense of wonder, humility, and goodness throughout his entire life. I'm not particularly interested in the specifics of naval history. I give this five stars purely because I loved the narrator. I'm glad he got a chance to tell his story.

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating - well astonishing actually - account of a life at sea in the late 18th and early 19th centuries; beautifully told and full of fascinating information. The introduction by Tim Flannery was also excellent.

[Madeleine McLaughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting History

For any history buffs, sailor fans or long-term social norms, this book is a gem. John Nichols was a man who turns the idea of drunken sailors on its head. Great read.

[LINDSEY M · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a unique an interesting book! The world in the late 18th century, as told by a common sailor.

I would recommend skipping the introduction, as it’s basically a summary of the book and contains many spoilers.

[Kasey Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A glimpse into the life of a mariner when the world was less know and the adventures were just part of the job. Great stuff on the "Lady Juliana".

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a charming little narrative of an ordinary seaman who twice rounded the globe. Of particular interest to me was his voyage on the female convict ship the Lady Juliana. His brief biographies of some of the women are corroborated by other sources. Nicol really illustrates the genuine fear sailors lived in of being press-ganged. His adventures span from the American Revolution to the Napoleonic wars. It is a narrative and life worthy of a movie. It reads simply and with pathos. Nicol's description of sailing on a Portuguese vessel is particularly vivid. The tales of religious superstition of the sailors under the spell of a 'back priest' was truly compelling, especially as the sailors left their post during a storm to pray and have holy water sprinkled on them almost at the cost of their vessel foundering! I would recommend this book to anyone interested in a sailor's life in the 1700s to 1800s. It's connection to Australia's colonial history is really incidental rather than central.

[J.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book simply because it gives a rare insight into the life of an ordinary person in the late eighteenth century.

Nicol was a Scottish seaman who spent his adult life in the merchant navy and latterly as a "pressed man" in the British Royal Navy.

He speaks eloquently of his voyages from whaling off Greenland to meeting the natives of the Sandwich Islands (The Hawiian Islands) just days after Captain Cook was murdred there.

He also gives first-hand accounts of three levels on depravity in man's inhumaity to man - pressed men in the Royal Navy (esentially men forced to serve on war ships for indeterminate periods), the transportation of convicts from British jails to Port Jackson (modern day Sydney Australia) to the lowest of the low, the slaves in the West Indies.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This wonderful book is up there with Joshua Slocum's great saga "Sailing Alone Around the World". The two men lived during the same period of history and it's tantalising to think that their paths may well have crossed. When he was a very old man, John Nicol was discovered picking up lumps of coal to keep from freezing, by a publisher who encouraged him to write his memoirs. He writes in his own voice about his many voyages and events that we're more familiar reading about in history books.

Recommended for anyone who is interested in history and the people who lived it.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found this little biography in London in a museum gift shop, and couldn't put it down--a real-life adventure at sea, complete with romance, Napoleonic-era battles, and all the ingredients of a great movie. Loved the epilogue about how the author was 'discovered' by the biographer, as a poor & destitute old man gathering coals in Edinburgh, and then sales of the book made him rich!

[graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

A history of a comman man that just "happened" to sail around the world 6 times and live to tell about it.

my favorite part is where he tells the story of the sailor who took a wife so fat they had to hoist her on board the ship with the cargo pulleys.