Frederick Marryat facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Frederick Marryat
Portrait by John Simpson, 1826
Born	(1792-07-10)10 July 1792 Westminster, London, UK
Died	9 August 1848(1848-08-09) (aged 56) Langham, Norfolk, UK
Occupation	Royal Navy officer, writer, novelist
Nationality	British
Period	19th century
Genre	Sea stories and children's literature

Captain Frederick Marryat (born July 10, 1792 – died August 9, 1848) was a brave officer in the Royal Navy. He was also a famous writer, known for his exciting sea stories. He is seen as one of the first authors to write "nautical fiction," which are adventure stories set on ships.

One of his most famous books is Mr Midshipman Easy (1836). It's a bit like his own life story. He is also well-known for his children's book, The Children of the New Forest (1847). Marryat also created a special system of maritime flag signalling called Marryat's Code, which was used by ships to send messages.

Frederick Marryat's Early Life and Naval Adventures

Frederick Marryat was born in London, England. His father, Joseph Marryat, was a successful merchant and a member of Parliament. Frederick loved the idea of the sea from a young age. He tried to run away to join a ship many times!

Finally, in 1806, he was allowed to join the Royal Navy. He started as a midshipman, which was a young officer in training. He served on a ship called HMS Imperieuse. This ship was commanded by Lord Cochrane, a very famous captain who later inspired many writers, including Marryat himself.

Exciting Times at Sea

While on the Imperieuse, Marryat had many adventures. He helped capture enemy ships off the coast of Spain. He even saved a fellow midshipman who fell overboard! He also took part in capturing a castle.

Later, he got sick with malaria and had to return to England. But after he got better, he went back to sea. He was on HMS Centaur and again saved a shipmate who had fallen into the water. He was very brave!

In 1811, while on HMS Aeolus, Marryat helped save the ship during a big storm. He led the effort to cut away a broken mast. He also saved another man from the sea during this storm.

War of 1812 and Promotions

Soon after, he joined HMS Spartan. He helped capture American ships during the War of 1812. In 1812, he was promoted to lieutenant. He continued to serve on different ships.

In 1814, Marryat led a small raid against a town in America. He managed to capture some American ships. He was promoted to commander in 1815, just as the war ended.

Life After the War: Inventions and Family

After the war, Marryat focused on science and inventions. He invented a special lifeboat. This invention was so good that he received a gold medal for it. People even started calling him "Lifeboat"!

He also created his famous Marryat's Code. This was a system of flags that ships could use to send messages to each other. It was very useful for naval ships and merchant ships traveling together.

In 1819, Frederick Marryat married Catherine Shairp. They had a large family with four sons and seven daughters. Some of his daughters, like Florence Marryat and Emilia Marryat, also became writers, just like their father.

In 1820, Marryat commanded a ship called HMS Rosario. He was given the important job of bringing back news about the death of Napoleon from Saint Helena. He even made a sketch of Napoleon on his deathbed.

Leaving the Navy to Write

In 1824, Marryat took part in a trip to Burma. Many sailors got sick during this time. He was promoted to post-captain, a high rank.

By 1829, he was commanding HMS Ariadne. This job involved searching for dangerous underwater rocks near the Madeira Islands and Canary Islands. It wasn't very exciting. Since his first novel had just been published, he decided to leave the Navy in 1830. He wanted to become a full-time writer.

Frederick Marryat's Writing Career

From 1832 to 1835, Marryat worked as an editor for The Metropolitan Magazine. At the same time, he kept writing his own books. His most successful novel was Mr Midshipman Easy, published in 1836.

He lived in Brussels for a year and traveled in Canada and the United States. In 1839, he moved back to London. There, he became friends with other famous writers, including Charles Dickens.

Honors and Later Life

Marryat was recognized for his inventions and achievements. He became a Fellow of the Royal Society, which is a very respected group for scientists.

In 1843, he moved to a farm in Norfolk, England. He passed away there in 1848. His daughter, Florence Marryat, became a well-known writer and actress. His son, Francis Samuel Marryat, finished one of his father's last novels.

Impact on Literature

Marryat's novels show what life was like at sea during his 25 years in the Navy. Famous writers like Mark Twain and Joseph Conrad admired his work. His books were the first "nautical novels." They inspired later authors who wrote similar sea adventures.

Marryat also wrote shorter pieces about life at sea. These included short stories and travel articles. They were published in The Metropolitan Magazine and later collected in a book called Olla Podrida.

His 1839 novel, The Phantom Ship, included a story called The White Wolf of the Hartz Mountains. This story is special because it features the first female werewolf in a short story!

Controversy and Children's Books

In 1839, Marryat published Diary in America. This travel book shared his thoughts about American culture. Some people in America did not like what he wrote. They even burned copies of his book in public!

Some readers thought Marryat's writing was sometimes messy. But others loved how lively and exciting his sea stories were. Later in his career, he wrote more books for children. His most famous children's novel today is The Children of the New Forest, published in 1847. It's set in the English countryside.

Frederick Marryat's Works

Family Connections

Frederick Marryat's niece, Augusta Sophia Marryat, married Sir Henry Young. He was a governor in Australia. A suburb called Marryatville and the town of Port Augusta in Australia were named after her. Augusta's brother, Charles Marryat, was an important church leader in Australia.

Images for kids

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  Frederick Marryat's sketch of Napoleon's body on his deathbed

See also

In Spanish: Frederick Marryat para niños