ABSTRACT
British seamen of the period had a strong sense of their own identity and, by the end of the century, a clear understanding of what constituted a true-bred man-of-war's man. Yet their self-image was inevitably influenced by popular representations of seamen in a range of media. This chapter explores the interaction and tension between these different processes, and considers the Navy's self image in the context of other public representations of service. For the seaman, work at sea was a form of temporary exile, a way of life necessarily adapted to the needs of working the ship and further limited by the accommodation available. In wartime, of course, many ordinary seamen were pressed into the Navy. In contrast with glowing image of the service which was being constructed, persistent complaints about pay from naval officers throughout the period struck a demoralizing note. Naval officers could help to shape their public image by hiring the services of a competent portrait artist.
