The Colonial Clippers

Alfred Basil Lubbock, MC, was a British historian, seaman, and soldier. He was a prolific writer about the last generation of commercial sailing vessels during the Age of Sail. He joined the Society for Nautical Research in 1911, served on its council from 1921 to 1924, and contributed to the periodical The Mariner's Mirror. He was born on September 9, 1876, in Rowley Bank, Arkley, Hertfordshire, as the second of five children. His father, Alfred Lubbock, and his mother, Louisa Wallroth, were married in 1875. Alfred senior served as an underwriter for Lloyd's of London and was a director of Robarts, Lubbock & Co, a private bank established in 1772. He descended from Sir John Lubbock, the 2nd Baronet. Basil Lubbock spent the majority of his early life with his uncle. He attended Eton College and was a member of the cricket team from 1894 to 1895. (His father had also attended Eton, where he was an accomplished athlete. Lubbock senior continued to play cricket into adulthood and was regarded as one of England's top batters). Lubbock junior learned to draw and paint using watercolours while at Eton. Some of his works were featured in his debut book. Others are in the collection of the National Maritime Museum in London. He was expected to follow family tradition and attend King's College in Cambridge. Instead, he decided to travel, leaving Britain by steamship for Canada.

This vintage book is a detailed account of the sailing ships that played a significant role in the development of the British Empire, written specially for the officers and seamen of the Mercantile navy. Highly detailed and including a wealth of fascinating information, this volume will appeal to those with an interest British maritime history, and would make for a fantastic addition to any bookshelf. Contents include: ¿The Power of Gold¿, ¿Steerage Conditions in 1844¿, ¿Discovery of Gold in Australiä, ¿Melbourne and its Shipping in 1851-2¿, ¿First Gold Cargoes Home¿, ¿Great Rush to Gold Regions in 1852¿, Maury's Improvements on Old Route to Colonies¿, ¿Early Fast Passages Outward¿, ¿Rules and Customs aboard the 'Eagle' in 1853¿, etc. Many vintage books such as this are becoming increasingly scarce and expensive. We are republishing this volume now in an affordable, high-quality edition complete with a specially commissioned new introduction on sailing. This book was first published in 1921.