An old engraving of a ‘press gang’ in Britain in the 1770s. It is from a Victorian history book of Impressment (‘the press’ or the ‘press gang’) was the forced conscription of men into the military, especially the navy, via intimidation and physical coercion, conducted by organised groups. European navies of several nations used impressment by various means. The large size of the British Royal Navy meant impressment was most commonly associated with Great Britain. The Royal Navy impressed many merchant sailors, as well as some sailors from other, mostly European, nations.
An old engraving of a ‘press gang’ in Britain in the 1770s. It is from a Victorian history book of Impressment (‘the press’ or the ‘press gang’) was the forced conscription of men into the military, especially the navy, via intimidation and physical coercion, conducted by organised groups. European navies of several nations used impressment by various means. The large size of the British Royal Navy meant impressment was most commonly associated with Great Britain. The Royal Navy impressed many merchant sailors, as well as some sailors from other, mostly European, nations. Non-seamen were sometimes impressed as well. In addition to the Royal Navy’s use of impressment, the British Army also experimented with impressment from 1778 to 1780.
Size: 4252px × 3341px
Location: UK
Photo credit: © M&N / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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