Powder monkey

A powder boy or powder monkey manned naval artillery guns as a member of a warship's crew, primarily during the Age of Sail. His chief role was to ferry gunpowder from the powder magazine in the ship's hold to the artillery pieces, either in bulk or as cartridges, to minimize the risk of fires and explosions.[1][2][3] The function was usually fulfilled by boy seamen of 12 to 14 years of age. Powder monkeys were usually boys or young teens, selected for the job for their speed and height: they were short and could move more easily in the limited space between decks and would also be hidden behind the ship's gunwale, keeping them from being shot by enemy ships' sharp shooters.[4] These powder monkeys held no official naval rank on the ships that they sailed on.[5] Some women and older men also worked as powder monkeys.[6]

For other uses, see Powder monkey (disambiguation).
Powder monkey (left) on a Ship of the Line
A powder monkey on a Union vessel during the American Civil War, circa. 1864

Many of the powder monkeys in the British Navy that ended up on ships were part of the poor working class. The Marine Society that promoted youths to join the British Royal Navy recruited them by providing clothes, bedding, and a rudimentary education. In the mid-1790s it is estimated that the Marine Society was sending five or six hundred boys a year to the fleet although not all of these boys became powder monkeys.[7] Of the boys who were recruited by the Marine Society; most had no other option than to join the navy as their parents could not afford to raise them. However a significant amount had familial ties to the sea. This group had cousins, fathers, and even grandfathers were sailors thus making them want to continue family traditions and exploit their sense of adventure.[8]

The United States did not have an established navy until after its independence in 1776 and even then it was loosely organized.[9] The United States Navy started using powder monkeys in the late 1700s after modeling its structure off of the Royal Navy. The nations fought against each other in the War of 1812. During which time both sides utilized the special physical gifts that powder monkeys offered on board of their warships.[10] After the War of 1812 boys under the age of twelve were outlawed by the U.S. Navy to serve on ships. However, boys above that age were still used as powder monkeys until the Spanish–American War at the end of the nineteenth century.[11]

The Royal Navy first began using the term "powder monkey" in the 17th century.[12] The term was later used, and continues to be used in some countries, to signify a skilled technician or engineer who engages in blasting work, such as in the mining or demolition industries. In such industries, a "powder monkey" is also sometimes referred to as a "blaster".[13]

References
  1. Costello, R. (2012). Black Salt: Seafarers of African Descent on British Ships. Liverpool University Press. p. 55. ISBN 1-846-31818-1.
  2. Callo, Joseph (2009). John Paul Jones:Africa's First Sea Warrior. Naval Institute Press. p. 235. ISBN 1-591-14104-4.
  3. Tucker, Spencer C., ed. (2014). The Encyclopedia of the Wars of the Early American Republic, 1783–1812: A Political, Social, and Military History. ABC-CLIO. p. 463. ISBN 1-598-84157-2.
  4. Lenfestey, Tom (2001). The Sailor's Illustrated Dictionary. Lenfestey, Thompson. Globe Pequot. p. 341. ISBN 1-585-74281-3.
  5. Lavery, Brian (1989). Nelson's Navy: The Ships, Men and Organization 1793-1815. 24 Bride Lane, Fleet Street London, UK: Conway Maritime Press LTD. pp. 92. ISBN 0-87021-258-3.CS1 maint: location (link)
  6. Goodwin, Peter (2004). Nelson's Victory: 101 Questions & Answers about HMS Victory, Nelson's Flagship at Trafalgar, 1805. Naval Institute Press. p. 50. ISBN 1-591-14615-1.
  7. Lavery, Brian (1989). Nelson's Navy: The Ships, men and Organization 1793-1815. 24 Bride Lane, Fleet Street London, UK: Conway Maritime Press LTD. pp. 124. ISBN 0-87021-258-3.CS1 maint: location (link)
  8. Leech, Samuel (2008). Thirty Years From Home: A Seamen's View of the War of 1812. P.O. Box 68412 Tucson, AZ 85737: Fireship Press. p. 8. ISBN 1-934757-38-1.CS1 maint: location (link)
  9. Miller, Nathan (1997). The U.S. Navy: A History (3rd edition). Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. pp. 34. ISBN 1-55750-595-0.
  10. Utt, Ronald (2012). Ships of Oak Guns of Iron: The war of 1812 and the Forging of the American Navy. Washington, DC: Regnery Publishing Inc. pp. 15–17. ISBN 978-1-62157-002-8.
  11. Bishop, Elanor (1982). Ponies, Patriots and Powder Monkeys. Del Mar, CA 92014: The Bishop Press. p. 93. ISBN 0-911329-00-5.CS1 maint: location (link)
  12. Breverton, Terry (2004). The Pirate Dictionary. Pelican Publishing. p. 130. ISBN 1-589-80243-8.
  13. Kosanke, K.L.; Sturman, Barry T.; Winokur, Robert M.; Kosanke, B.J. (2012). Encyclopedic Dictionary of Pyrotechnics: (and Related Subjects). Journal of Pyrotechnics. p. 1009. ISBN 1-889-52621-5.
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